Q: Which services are free?
Access to the Election Administration Platform requires membership in the Election Software Collaborative, which has a membership fee and a per-user cost. We also offer custom technical projects to election offices facing acute challenges or with innovative ideas, which is free where legally allowed. Ask your jurisdiction’s legal counsel about any local laws that might apply. Learn more about those services here.
Q: What makes up the annual fees?
Annual fees are divided into two components: a flat membership fee and per-user fees. There are four tiers of flat membership fees, varying based on the jurisdiction's population size. Pricing for the lowest tier starts at $3,000 per year. Please contact us to learn more about the tiered pricing and discounts available. Per-user fees are $540 per user per year. They scale based on the number of your staff using the platform.
Q: Why a membership model vs a traditional vendor model?
The membership model empowers our members to have the most say in the Election Software Collaborative, including product prioritization and overall governance. Traditional software license models make more sense for for-profit companies with shareholders seeking to maximize profits. Because we aim to produce the best election software, we aim to empower our partners with the most decision-making.
Q: Are there any implementation fees or other costs for support or training?
Training (conducted virtually), implementation, and support costs are included in membership fees. We will work alongside your team to ensure the system meets your needs. After your first election using the new software, your team will be empowered to manage your election processes independently, and we will be available for consultation in case you want to request any other features. There are no added fees for use of any and all additional features.
Q: What happens if we add more users midway through the contract year?
We do a reconciling process for additional costs at the end of the year. We will work alongside your team to ensure the system meets your needs. After your first election using the new software, your team will be empowered to manage your election processes independently, and we will be available for consultation in case you want to request any other features.
Q: Do you offer any discounts?
We offer discounts for members willing to complete actions to further the goals of the Collaborative, for example, referring another member, completing a case study with us, or co-presenting at a conference.
