When Google Forms isn't enough for governance voting
Google Forms is a convenient, free tool for collecting information. VoteAlly is purpose-built for something specific: formal governance votes that require ballot secrecy, voter authentication, weighted tallying, and a documented audit trail.
VoteAlly is not affiliated with Google LLC. Feature information reflects publicly available details as of February 2026 and may have changed.
A form collects responses. An election enforces rules.
With a general form tool, you are responsible for implementing the controls that governance elections require. Restricting access to eligible voters, preventing individuals from voting more than once, tallying weighted results, and producing audit documentation all require custom configuration or manual work afterward.
VoteAlly handles these requirements out of the box because it is built for this exact purpose.
What dedicated voting software provides
Governance requirements that a form tool cannot address natively.
Proper ballot secrecy
Participation records and encrypted ballot choices are stored separately. Administrators verify who has voted without linking individual choices to specific people.
Voter-list enforcement
Only the eligible voters you upload can access the ballot. Each person gets one vote tied to their identity, not just one response per browser session.
Native weighted voting
Upload a CSV with unit entitlements or share percentages. VoteAlly tallies weighted results automatically when the vote closes. No post-meeting spreadsheet work.
Cryptographic receipt codes
Every voter receives a unique receipt. Codes can be cross-checked against the published tally to confirm their vote was included without revealing their choice.
Live meeting support
Open and close individual motions in real time during your AGM. Results appear instantly. No exporting and counting responses manually after the meeting.
Governance-ready documentation
VoteAlly generates a participation record, anonymized tally, and executive summary formatted for your minute book, ready the moment voting closes.
When VoteAlly is the right tool
- Your bylaws or governing documents require a formal secret ballot
- Voting should be restricted to a specific list of eligible members
- Election results carry legal weight or are used to make binding decisions
- You need a weighted tally based on property value or unit share
- You need an audit trail ready for your minute book or legal review
Frequently asked questions
What does Google Forms not do that VoteAlly does?
Google Forms is a general-purpose tool, so governance controls require manual configuration. Restricting access to a specific voter list, enforcing one response per identified member, separating participation from ballot content for secrecy, calculating weighted results, and generating governance-formatted audit documentation are not native default behaviors. They depend on how the form is configured and what steps are taken outside the platform after the vote closes.
Is VoteAlly much harder to set up?
For the administrator, it is similar: add questions and send a link. VoteAlly adds one extra step, uploading a voter CSV. For voters, VoteAlly is actually simpler. They tap a Magic Link in their email instead of navigating to a URL manually.
What if I just need a quick informal poll?
For informal sentiment checks with no eligibility requirements, Google Forms or similar tools work well. VoteAlly is the right choice when the vote carries legal or governance weight.
Is VoteAlly free?
Yes. The Free plan supports up to 50 eligible voters per session with no credit card required.
Run your first governance election free
Create an account, import your voter list, and run a test election with up to 50 voters at no cost.
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