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Category: Company News|Voting System

Simply Voting is now an Approved Vendor for IAFF Elections

Posted on by Clémence Campillo

We are excited to announce that Simply Voting has officially become an approved vendor for IAFF elections. This partnership marks a new milestone in our commitment to provide transparent, secured and accessible elections for unions.

About IAFF:

The IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) is one of the largest and most influential labor unions in North America. They are advocating for the rights, safety, and future of fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and rescue workers across the United States and Canada.

Compliance with the LMRDA:

The IAFF follows the guidelines outlined by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, therefore complying with those guidelines is essential to become an approved vendor. This ensures that all vendors meet high standards for quality, security and practices.

The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) establishes democratic standards for conducting regular elections of union officers and elections of delegates who elect officers. The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), an agency within the Department of Labor, is responsible for enforcing the LMRDA.

Simply Voting complies with the LMRDA’s requirements by:

  • Ensuring ballot secrecy and offering the ability to remove any link between a voter and their vote.
  • Ensuring that any voting credentials provided to members are not available to others, through union or company websites or in some other manner.
  • Employing safeguards that can detect and log efforts to breach the encrypted file and access information about how particular voters voted.
  • Using encryption technology meeting industry standards that ensures the integrity of the ballots at all points from when they are cast to decryption and counting and disclosing the use of such encryption technology to observers.
  • The opportunity to observe any steps necessary for the counting of the votes, and any other steps necessary to audit that process.
  • Maintenance of detailed logs of every transaction and means to ensure the integrity of those logs.
  • Periodic audits of the system by an authorized independent party.
  • Allowing union members to vote only through a secure portal
  • Randomizing the order in which votes are stored in the encrypted file so that the ballot tally reveals no information about the order in which votes were cast.
  • Offering the ability to store election records for 1 year or more.

The full guidelines can be found here.

Other types of unions we are serving:

Other unions also trust Simply Voting for their elections whether it is for collective bargaining or leadership votes. Our secured, accessible and customizable online voting system is designed to adapt to your requirements whether you need internet only or hybrid elections. We offer online voting, paper ballots, telephone voting and in person kiosks to make your elections more inclusive and efficient.

Whether you are planning on running a large-scale national vote or a small local one, our flexible online voting tool will meet your needs.

Learn more on how we support unions here.

California HOA Election Rules: How Simply Voting Ensures Compliance

Posted on by Clémence Campillo

Is Your HOA Ready for Electronic Voting? Simply Voting is Here to Help

As of January 1, 2025, California HOAs can legally implement electronic voting for most secret ballot elections. This change, driven by Assembly Bill 2159 (AB 2159), requires HOAs to update their Election Rules and adopt new record-keeping practices, such as maintaining lists of electronic and paper ballot voters.

With Simply Voting, your HOA can easily comply with AB 2159 and the Davis-Stirling Act. Simply Voting ensures compliance with secure, verifiable electronic ballots, user-friendly interfaces, and seamless record management, addressing essential requirements for Inspectors of Elections.

Key Features:

PRE-ELECTION

  1. Easy Opt-In and Opt-Out Options
    Simply Voting’s platform supports flexibility, allowing the inspector of election to upload voters who opted in to electronic voting with ease, as mandated by AB 2159.
  2. Secure Record Management
    AB 2159 necessitates keeping organized records, especially with email addresses of members voting electronically. Simply Voting ensures secure and compliant record management, simplifying the process for HOAs and aiding Inspectors of Elections in verifying and maintaining election integrity.
  3. Seamless Communication
    Once candidates are known election notices can be sent to voters in advance of voting, and as well as at the start of voting and periodic reminders to voters who haven’t yet voted. The platform’s customizable notifications keep members informed of election details, deadlines, and voting instructions, ensuring clear communication and boosting engagement.
  4. Hybrid Services: Simply Voting is compatible with hybrid events. It can be a hybrid mix of electronic, paper voting, prior to a meeting or during a meeting, candidate votes or motion votes.
  5. Device Communication Confirmation: we provide a sample test ballot portal at least 30 days before voting, allowing voters to test their devices with the voting system.
  6. User-Friendly and Accessible Design: AB-2159 requires that electronic voting systems be accessible to all HOA members, regardless of technical proficiency. Simply Voting’s intuitive interface is designed with ease of use in mind, helping to increase member engagement and participation. The platform’s accessibility ensures that all eligible members can cast their votes with ease, in compliance with the new law.

DURING THE ELECTION

  1. Member Authentication: Simply Voting provides secure identity authentication methods for online voting. Voting passwords are generated for each eligible voter and distributed by email. Or, Simply Voting integrates with your existing authentication method for a single-sign-on solution.
  2. Secure Ballot Transmission: Transmits electronic ballots securely to maintain integrity during transit.
  3. Compliance with Quorum Flexibility Under AB-1458
    With AB-1458’s reduced quorum allowances, Simply Voting can assist HOAs in managing and meeting updated quorum requirements for rescheduled meetings, ensuring elections remain valid and compliant with the latest California regulations.

POST-ELECTION

  1. Secure Storage: Maintains access to electronic ballots for authorized election officials for recounts and audits.
  2. Transparent and Auditable Results: Transparency is a cornerstone of AB-2159. Simply Voting offers a comprehensive audit trail and detailed verification processes, which allow HOAs to review and verify results post-election. This auditability enhances the integrity of the election and ensures that results are both accurate and trustworthy, meeting the law’s transparency requirements.

Other features required:

  • Write-in Candidates: Supports write-in options.
  • Weighted and Cumulative Voting: Allows cumulative voting in line with governing documents, maintaining secret ballot procedures.
  • True Anonymity: Permanently separates identifying information from ballots, ensuring anonymity and compliance with audit requirements.
  • All votes are final cannot be revoked.

These features not only align with regulatory requirements but also promote transparency, security, and member trust in the voting process.

With Simply Voting, California HOAs and Inspector of Elections can confidently adopt electronic voting, meeting all new legal requirements while providing a secure, transparent voting experience. Stay compliant with AB 2159 and provide your HOA members with a streamlined, trustworthy voting process.

CONTACT OUR TEAM FOR MORE INFORMATION OR GET A QUOTE