Getting Your Ballot Invitation
When your cooperative opens an election, you'll receive an email invitation. Here's what to expect:
Check your email
Look for an email from your cooperative or from CoVote on their behalf.
Find your access code
Your email contains a unique personal access code — a long string of letters and numbers.
Visit the voting portal
Click "Open My Ballot" in the email, or visit your cooperative's voting portal directly.
Your access code is unique to you — it's your personal key to the election. Don't share it with other members. If you misplace it, contact your election administrator.
Logging In
- 1
Click the "Open My Ballot" button in your invitation email — this takes you directly to your ballot.
- 2
Or visit your cooperative's voting portal URL and enter your access code manually.
- 3
Paste or type your access code into the "Access Code" field.
- 4
Click "Access My Ballot". You'll be taken to the open elections for your cooperative.
Member Portal
Your Cooperative
Access Your Ballot
Enter the access code from your ballot invitation email
Your access code was emailed to you when the election opened.
Common login issues:
My access code says it's invalid
I can't find my invitation email
The ballot link isn't working
Types of Ballots
Different elections use different voting methods. Your cooperative chooses the method that best suits each election.
Plurality Voting
Select one or more candidates
Select the candidate(s) you want to vote for. Most elections ask you to pick 1, but some allow up to a specified maximum.
- 1. Click a candidate card to select it — it highlights with a border and checkmark.
- 2. Click again to deselect if you change your mind.
- 3. Click Submit when you're ready to cast your vote.
Ranked Choice Voting
Rank candidates in order of preference
Rank candidates from most preferred (#1) to least preferred. This lets you express nuanced preferences.
- 1. Click a candidate to assign them your next available rank number.
- 2. A numbered badge appears on the card showing their rank.
- 3. Use the sidebar to reorder rankings by dragging.
- 4. Click Submit when all required ranks are assigned.
Approval Voting
Approve as many candidates as you support
Select all candidates you approve of — there's no limit. You might vote for one person or for many.
- 1. Click a candidate to toggle your approval — a checkmark appears when approved.
- 2. Approve as many or as few as you like. Click again to remove approval.
- 3. Click Submit when you're ready.
Yes / No Voting
Vote yes or no on each candidate individually
Vote YES or NO on each candidate separately. You must answer every candidate before you can submit.
- 1. For each candidate, click ✓ YES or ✗ NO.
- 2. A progress bar shows how many you've answered.
- 3. Once all candidates are answered, the Submit button activates.
Reading Candidate Bios
Before voting, you can learn more about each candidate:
- Click any candidate's photo or the “Read full bio →” link to open their full profile.
- The bio panel shows their full platform statement and background information.
- You can cast your vote directly from the bio view without returning to the main ballot.
Submitting Your Ballot
- Once all required choices are made, the Submit button becomes active.
- Click Submit to cast your vote. You'll see a confirmation screen.
- Your vote is final — ballots cannot be changed after submission.
Your vote is recorded!
Thank you for participating in your cooperative's election. Your vote has been securely recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my vote after submitting?
What if I close my browser before submitting?
Is my vote anonymous?
Who can see my access code?
The election isn't showing up after I log in
I voted but didn't get a confirmation
Who do I contact for help?
Still need help?
Contact your cooperative's election administrator for account-specific questions like lost access codes or eligibility issues.
For questions about the CoVote platform: [email protected]