July 2009 - Testimonial from Regional Express Holdings
“Organising a secure electronic ballot within a tight deadline”
The Voting Challenge
Regional Express Holdings (REX), needed to conduct a nationwide ballot of employee – pilots, within a very short period of time. Only 7-days were available for the entire process including planning, design of the electronic channel, and communication of the ballot within the organisation, actual voting and vote counting.
It was essential that the voting process was seen by the employees to be independent and secure so that the result of the ballot would withstand the closest scrutiny.
A Collective Agreement Ballot (CAB) must include all staff regardless of their location. REX required that the impact on the pilots was minimal, and due to their busy rostering arrangements meant that not all personnel were at work at any one time, not in one location and frequently out of their home port. This poses an additional challenge to the management of a CAB.
The Election Consulting Group Solution
In the past REX had used traditional paper-based voting method by Post, to conduct employee ballots. Election Consulting Group proposed an electronic Internet voting system as the appropriate method as it could be implemented within the required timeframe.
Internet voting had the added advantage; the instructions with Personal Access Codes were sent to employee emails and included a link to the voting secure hosted web site. When the pilot opened their email, clicked on the links, the time required to vote took less than a minute.
The Business Benefit
The ballot was completed on time and within budget. The electronic Internet ballot reduced the timeline and material(s) plus postage costs. The unions were satisfied that the ballot had been conducted appropriately and by an independent body. The participation rate achieved was considered quite high. Election Consulting Group supported the pilot technical queries during the voting process, by a dedicated Help Desk reducing the workload of REX HR managers. The results were finalised within minutes of the ballot close with final report provided soon after.
Client Comments
Ms. Maree Penglis HR Manager said “Election Consulting Group were very responsive and helpful, tailoring the process to the needs of the business and pointing out any foreseeable challenges. Guidance and coordination was provided with a minimum of fuss keeping to the extremely tight deadline, the company was very professional in their dealings”.
May 2009 - Website Launch
The Election Consulting Group Pty Ltd launched their website in May 2009.
This informative web-site is aimed to assist prospective clients in their decision making processes specifically in regards to electronic voting.
The site will be updated on an ad-hoc basis when new products, client news, general news and helpful hints are deemed of interest to our clients.
We are interested in hearing from our clients regarding feedback on our website. Please contact sales@electionconsulting.com.au or call our Head Office number (02) 93629775.
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