Survey & Ballot Systems

Regardless of the number of candidates, every nomination process must be secure and efficient to ensure seamless elections. However, the existing nomination filing procedures are time-consuming, laborious, and leave administrators inundated with paperwork. At the same time, candidates need to go through a labyrinth of paper-intensive processes to submit the required information for an upcoming election. By leveraging digital solutions, city administrators can save time and costs, improve security, and simplify the candidate filing process. This is where Survey & Ballot Systems’ DirectNominations platform excels.

Since 1990, Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS)––a governance solutions company––has been setting the standards in election management. SBS’ DirectNominations is a cloud-based civic engagement technology that enables candidates to file information seamlessly in one place while allowing election administrators in cities and counties to track submissions and the application process.

“DirectNominations digitalizes the otherwise paper-heavy candidate filing process. Nominees can sit in the comfort of their homes and fill out all the information conveniently on their own schedule. City administrators can then verify the candidate information before accepting the candidate for the ballot,” says Pete Westerhaus, Account Manager at SBS.

DirectNominations can also be used for award nominations, such as Economic Development Awards. The platform provides real-time monitoring capabilities to election authorities and administrators in all use cases. DirectNominations also includes built-in key communication features that allow the administrators to contact candidates who are midway through the process and remind them to complete their application before the deadline.

SBS works directly with each client to provide customized services to build an application that meets their requirements. Based on the client’s needs, the company adds various features such as document upload, short answer boxes, and candidate contact information capture.
The company tests each application vigorously before it goes live and supports the client throughout the project.

“Our platform helps standardize the entire candidate filing process and enables clients to customize questions and set word limits. It also allows users to export the nomination information into a consolidated PDF, Microsoft Word document or RTF for their reference,” added Westerhaus.

DirectNominations’ real-time monitoring capabilities were particularly beneficial for a large city in California. Prior to using the platform, administrators in this city would have to anxiously wait until the last minute for candidates to submit their paperwork in person. With DirectNominations, they could easily track candidate progress and send them reminders to complete the application process on time. The client was also struggling with COVID-19 restrictions and trying to figure out new ways to engage their citizens safely. DirectNominations was the perfect platform for the city to digitalize and simplify the process for administrators and citizens, while boosting engagement and collaboration between them.

Realizing the stressful and complex processes clients have to undergo for each election, the SBS team is available to guide and support their clients through the entire process. Security is top of mind for the company, and SBS invests significantly in ensuring that the information collected by their solutions is locked down and secure at all times.

A family-owned and operated business, SBS takes pride in their employees, many of whom have been with the company for over 15 years. With customer-centricity at the core, the team is committed to delivering innovative solutions, resources, and services to make elections and governance an easy and successful process.

SBS offers clients the flexibility to engage with citizens in new ways. Government entities, member-based organizations, and businesses that are driven by the need to engage with their stakeholders virtually, in-person, or in a hybrid environment stand to benefit from SBS’ governance solutions.