E-Voting Tool: Shift from Email to Web

[jlivingood]

IMO voting via email using reply-all is incredibly antiquated. I suggest the IAB utilize the same voting platform used by the IETF LLC, which generally supports the following requirements:

1. When a vote is initiated, you get an email with a personalized voting URL.
2. This directs you to a form to cast your vote.
3. OPTIONALLY, as configured on a per-vote basis, you can see what votes have been cast so far by person, in aggregate, or not at all. So from (a) Person 1 has not voted, Person 2 voted YES, etc. to (b) 10 votes cast so far, 8 Yes/1 No/1 Abstain, to (c) results hidden.
4. OPTIONALLY, as configured on a per-vote basis, a person can change their vote during until the balloting has ended.
5. The voting time ends automatically when the final vote is cast and the results are automatically emailed out.
6. OPTIONALLY, the vote administrator can set reminders and a vote duration. So for example, the vote is open for up to 14 days and after 7 days, a daily reminder is sent to each non-respondent.

[fluffy]

Which platform are you using at IETF LLC ? My general goal is to be able to use Common Off the Shelf Tools

[jlivingood]

Which platform are you using at IETF LLC ? My general goal is to be able to use Common Off the Shelf Tools

Election Buddy - https://electionbuddy.com/

[wkumari]

... and I immediately went "Oh, I'm sure that there is some trivial to install and use open source software. That way we can easily run and manage these, and we don't have to pay, and all will be happiness and light!" - but it looks like many of the hosted solutions provide up to 20 voters for free, and, more importantly, no-one will have to manage yet another piece of software...

[tfpauly]

For discussion on: September 24 2025

Goals:

• Get discussion and input from IAB to determine if we'd like to try out a new system for upcoming votes
• If so, converge one which tool to use

Background and content:

See suggested tool above (https://electionbuddy.com/)

[tfpauly]

Discussed on: September 24 2025

IAB Members present: All other than Mirja

Outcomes:

• People brought up mixed feelings on particular tools. Email acknowledged as a bit archaic for the task, but doesn't involve clicking links in email or adding more overhead in other ways.
• Cindy will send out a test election buddy vote to the group so we can get experience.