Debunking conventional wisdom
by. Jenn Barton
Let’s say you are the primary person responsible for conducting the board of directors’ election for your credit union. It’s likely you take an administrative approach to the job, thinking about timing and calendars, methods of collecting ballots and disseminating information. Odds are you’ve put a process in place that is very similar to prior years, in the spirit of “that’s the way we’ve always done it,”—also known as “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Current research shows, however, applying principals of behavioral psychology to election administration can have a significant impact on voter participation. Behavioral marketers seek to understand consumer behaviors so campaigns can be customized to increase effectiveness. If your campaign’s goal is to get more members involved in the selection process for your board of directors, a few simple changes to the election process can make a big difference.
In a recent Votenet Genome Project, we gathered data from thousands of ballots to uncover key trends in ballot administration and ballot settings. The most outstanding finding? Conventional wisdom has room for improvement. Let’s look at a few traditional approaches to elections that are not as effective as you might expect.
What month should you start a ballot?
Most organizations start in April or September. The best months are May and June, with turnout rates about 8% higher.