CharterVote vs OpaVote

CharterVote is a web platform for associations and member bodies to run board elections, motions, referenda, and quick polls. Members verify eligibility once and receive accreditation for a single ballot, which they can cast anonymously using an access code without making a CharterVote account. Members can check whether ballot receipts were included, compare published results with retained evidence, and verify winner certificates through public checks. CharterVote says it uses HTTPS with strict security headers and rate limits sensitive actions. It says it collects only data needed for an election and lets account holders export or erase their data. Enterprise elections can split the ballot-box key among trustees so no single person, including CharterVote, can open results alone. The service is intended for groups such as unions, cooperatives, professional associations, faith groups, alumni networks, and student bodies. The free Starter plan covers up to 25 eligible voters per election, with results and hosted verification kept for 365 days. Paid elections start at $119, paid once for up to 250 voters. Verification does not establish voter identity or intent, device security, or events outside the platform.

OpaVote runs online elections and public polls, and can count ranked ballots gathered elsewhere. Election ballots use secret, single-use voter links, while supported methods include checkbox, ranked-choice, STV, Condorcet, Borda and approval voting. It also supports weighted voting based on factors such as shares or property surface. Managers can track email and ballot opens, submissions and delivery problems, then remind people who have not voted. Results can include charts, text, CSV and JSON, along with downloadable ballots and a recount link. Its API lets customers manage elections from their own servers and returns JSON. Interfaces and notifications support English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Slovenian and Finnish; voters can use phones, tablets, laptops or desktops. The service supports up to one million voters per election. The free plan allows three simultaneous elections, each with up to 25 voters and 10 candidates. Pay as you go costs $10, paid once for every 125 voters or 20 candidates. Polls rely on low-security cookie controls to discourage repeat voting, so the service recommends an election where higher security is needed.