School board elections can seem intimidating… But they don’t have to be
As the saying goes, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time… So let’s break the election down into 5 manageable phases.
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Phase 01
Election Setup
Preparation is the key to a smooth election.
Before the process begins, we gather the information needed to ensure everything runs correctly and provide a clear plan for the election timeline.
What we do
- Set your school up in the Election Pilot system
- Confirm key details, including the Principal, Board Chair, election date, SMS system and school roll
- Provide your Election Handbook, which answers the most common election questions
- Provide a clear communication plan for your school community
What your school needs to do
- Pass a motion appointing Election Pilot as your Returning Officer
- Provide some key information to help us set up your election
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Phase 02
Finalising the Electoral Roll
Ensuring the electoral roll is accurate means election information reaches the right people.
What we do
- Integrate our election platform with your school's Student Management System (SMS)
- Generate the electoral roll at the appropriate time
- Provide a public electoral roll for viewing at the school office if required
What your school needs to do
- Authorise the SMS integration (this only allows access to the information needed for elections)
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Phase 03
Nominations
This is when the election becomes visible to your wider school community.
What we do
- Send the official Call for Nominations to everyone on the electoral roll
- Provide nomination forms and clear instructions
- Send reminder emails during the nomination period
- Provide a live admin portal so your school can track progress
- Manage candidates and process queries
What your school needs to do
- Promote nominations through your existing communication channels, such as newsletters, social media and your school app
(Templates and examples for this are included in the Election Handbook.)
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Phase 04
Voting
If enough nominations are received, the election moves to the voting stage.
What we do
- Send secure electronic voting links to all eligible voters
- Send reminder emails during the voting period
- Provide paper voting options if required
- Manage any voting questions or technical issues
What your school needs to do
- Encourage participation by reminding your community that voting is open via your usual communication channels
(Again, templates for this are included in the Election Handbook.)
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Phase 05
Results and Reporting
The final stage of the election process.
What we do
- Count all votes
- Generate the official Declaration of Results
- Send the results to candidates and key school contacts
- Provide any post-election reporting required
What your school needs to do
- Share the election results with your community through your newsletter, school app or other communication channels
We’re with you every step of the way
Don’t worry if the process still feels a little daunting. Our Mission Control team will guide you through each stage to ensure your election runs smoothly.
