This optional field lets you embed custom content (e.g. an image, custom instructions, company promotional material, etc.) on the voting page, replacing the default "Order by Preference / Drag & Drop" headings. The candidate list and voting buttons remain below.

Sizing the iframe

The iframe is set to 100% width. Prefer a white background for continuity. To control the height, add a small script to your hosted page that sends its height to the parent window:

<script>
  window.addEventListener('load', function() {
    parent.postMessage(
      { iframeHeight: document.body.scrollHeight },
      '*'
    );
  });
</script>

Ranked Choices will automatically resize the iframe to match.

Requirements

• The URL must use https://
• The hosted page must allow embedding (no X-Frame-Options: DENY header)

By default, voters see generic "Order by Preference / Drag & Drop" headings above the ballot on the voting page.

Custom instructions replace those headings with your own formatted text, images, and other content.

Use this to provide context, rules, or any information voters should know before casting their ranked choice vote.

When enabled, this feature uses browser fingerprinting to detect if the same device has already voted on this ballot. No personal data is collected — only an anonymous device identifier is generated and stored.

Kiosk Mode

If you are using a shared device (e.g. a tablet at an event), log in with your account on that device. As the ballot creator, your device will be automatically whitelisted, allowing multiple people to vote from the same device.

Limitations

• Different browsers or incognito/private windows on the same device may be treated as separate devices.
• If a voter's browser blocks fingerprinting, the check is skipped and they can vote normally.

The Borda count is a point-based voting method. Each voter ranks the candidates, and points are awarded based on position:

• 1st place: {{bordaResults.cap - 1}} points
• 2nd place: {{bordaResults.cap - 2}} points
• 3rd place: {{bordaResults.cap - 3}} points
• ...and so on down to 0. Ranks beyond {{bordaResults.cap}} are unscored.
• ...and so on. Last place and unranked candidates receive 0 points.

• 1st place: 4 points
• 2nd place: 3 points
• 3rd place: 2 points
• ...and so on. Last place and unranked candidates receive 0 points.
• Example shown for 5 candidates. Actual points depend on the number of entries.

The candidate with the most total points wins. Unlike standard ranked choice voting (RCV), which eliminates candidates round by round, Borda rewards broad support across all voters.

When Borda works well: Contests where voters genuinely like multiple options such as chili cook-offs, movie night, or "best of" polls. Borda surfaces the option with the broadest appeal.

When standard RCV is the better fit: Elections where voters have a clear preference for one candidate over others, such as electing a new board member or vacation destination. Standard RCV ensures the winner has true majority support.

Note: The RCVis graph is not available in Borda mode since Borda does not use rounds.

By default, candidates are shown in random order to each voter. This helps reduce positional bias — candidates listed first tend to receive more votes simply because of their placement.

Check this box to show candidates in the exact order you entered them. This is useful when the order itself is meaningful, such as numbered options or chronological choices.

RCVis generates an interactive Sankey diagram that visualizes how votes transfer between rounds in an RCV election.

Requires a Voting Cutoff time. The graph is generated after voting closes, so a cutoff must be set for this feature to work. If no cutoff is set, this option will be disabled.

Secure ballots use system-generated codes for verified voting. Each voter receives a unique code that must be entered before they can cast a ballot.

This ensures that only authorized voters can participate and that each code can only be used once.

What changes with a secure ballot?

• A voting cutoff time is required and set automatically
• Tie-break is set to Random (official)
• Voter names are replaced by voter codes

Managing voter codes

After creating the ballot, generate and manage voter codes from the ballot management page in your profile. You can add codes at any time, assign labels, and track which codes have been used.

Add custom questions that voters answer before casting their vote. For example, you could ask voters for their department, age group, or any other category.

Supported prompt types

• Dropdown — voter picks from a list of options you define
• Text — voter types a free-form response
• Checkbox — voter checks a yes/no box

Filtering results

After voting closes, the ballot owner can filter and group results by voter responses — for example, viewing how each department voted separately.

Prompts are defined on the ballot management page after creation.

When two or more candidates are tied with the fewest votes in a round, a tie-break rule decides which candidate is eliminated.

Random (official)

One of the tied candidates is eliminated at random. This is the standard method used in official ranked choice elections. It is simple and unbiased, but the outcome may differ if the election is re-run.

Weighted

Instead of choosing randomly, the algorithm looks at the next-choice preferences of voters who ranked the tied candidates. The candidate with the least downstream support is eliminated. This produces more deterministic results and factors in the full depth of voter preferences.

If a candidate needs to be removed from the results (e.g. they won another office, dropped out, or were disqualified), you can withdraw them here. Their votes will be redistributed to the remaining candidates.

Withdrawals can be reversed until results are released. The vote page is not affected — all candidates still appear for ranking.