---
title: "Questions"
slug: "managing-questions"
updated: 2025-08-26T18:32:30Z
published: 2025-08-26T18:32:30Z
canonical: "help.simplyvoting.com/managing-questions"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.simplyvoting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Questions

## Creating a Question

In the **Questions** section you define the items or issues being voted upon. **Questions** represent individual topics on which your electors will vote.

Click the **Create New Question** button to start the creation process.

![EM_pre_election_create_question_empty_with_proof_button](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_pre_election_create_question_empty_with_proof_button.png)

Create a **Title** for your first question describing the topic (*e.g. “Board of Trustees”*) and then click the **Create** button.

![new_question_modal_en.png](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/new_question_modal_en.png)

After you’ve created a new question, click on the **Edit** button to manage the question's details.

![EM_pre_election_edit_question_with_proof_button](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_pre_election_edit_question_with_proof_button.png)

In the **Question Details** section you now edit the **Title**, specify a **Description** *(Optional)*, and upload an **Image** *(Optional)*.

In the **Description** you can use formatting to add emphasis, and use **placeholders** to further personalize an elector's ballot.

To use a **placeholder**, simply start typing two open curly brackets (i.e. **{{** ) to open a dynamic auto-complete menu of available placeholders depending on the features activated on your account and relevant to this specific field.

![EM_redesign_pre_election_edit_questions_details1](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_redesign_pre_election_edit_questions_details1.png)

Description Formatting Tips

Hover over a **Formatting Button** if you are unsure about its function. If you have a large amount of text, try using the **“Fullscreen”** button to make your setup easier.

Now you must specify the **Type** of question and additional question details. See below for an explanation in greater detail of **Types** and other related details.

![EM_redesign_pre_election_edit_questions_details2](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_redesign_pre_election_edit_questions_details2.png)

## Question Types

### Plurality (most votes wins)

This is often used for candidate races or Yes/No questions, and this is your basic election ballot question type. It is the type of question that requires electors to “ *Select from the following options.* ”

- For **Plurality** questions you may also select whether or not you would like to accept **Write-ins**. Free Write-ins allow electors to “type-in” a voting option in a free form text field. If Free Write-ins are enabled, Simply Voting standardizes any nuances in capitalization. Or you may select Validated Write-ins which checks a voter’s input against the names on the imported elector’s list, ensuring you do not receive any non-valid write-ins (*e.g. King Kong*). Write-ins are tabulated on the results section like any other results.
- For **Plurality** questions you must specify the number of options that **Voters Select**. Voters can select…
  - Only one option
  - Up to **x** options
  - Exactly **x** options
  - Between **x** options and **x** options *(e.g. If 3 vacancies are being filled on our Board of Trustees, you could specify electors must select between 2 options and 3 options, out of 6 total options).*

### Preferential (rank each option)

This is often used for preference questions where electors must rank in order their preference for certain voting options.

- For **Preferential** questions you must specify how **Voters Rank**, which defines how many of options must be ranked for a vote to be accepted. You can make it so voters need to rank…
  - All options
  - Any number of options
  - At least **x** options
  - Up to **x** options
  - Exactly **x** options
  - Between **x** options and **x** options
- For **Preferential** questions, you must also select the Counting Method, which determines how your results are calculated. The following Counting Methods are available:
  - Borda Count
  - Single Transferable Vote / Instant Runoff Voting / Alternative Voting
  - Condorcet Ranked Pairs / Tideman

Detailed Counting Method Explainers

For a more complete explanation of **preferential** questions and possible counting methods, see [Preferential Voting Methods](/v1/docs/preferential-voting-methods).

- For **Preferential** questions, you must specify **Number of Winners**, which defines how many voting options will be elected (*e.g. If 3 vacancies are being filled on our Board of Trustees, the winners would be set to 3*).

### Comment Box

This is often used for gathering freeform text responses to questions that require the elector to supply some form of information or text *(e.g. “Additional comments” or “Please update your contact information” etc.*). There is no limit on how much content an elector can supply for a Comments question. If **Abstain** is enabled, electors simply leave the text area blank if they do not wish to comment.

### Info Box

This is often used to group similar questions together, such as those relating to a particular office or position or perhaps a series of bylaw changes, or to simply to add descriptive or informative text somewhere on the ballot.

For instance, you could specify a header **Title** such as *“Bylaws Section 1.0.2 Changes”* and a **Description** that contained the proposed text of the Bylaws. Then you could create a series of questions all relating to changes in *“Section 1.0.2”* before adding in an additional **Info Box** for changes to another section.

## Finishing Question Setup

For some questions you must also specify whether electors are allowed or disallowed to **Abstain**, and if they are allowed to do so, whether **Abstain** is listed as an explicit option.

You may also decide whether the Voting System’s default **Voting Instructions** are displayed to voters or whether you wish to write your own instructions in the **Description** field above.

For some questions you must specify the **Sorting of Options**, which defines how voting options are presented to electors when viewing the ballot. These sorting options include **Random**, **Alphanumeric**, or in a specific **Fixed Order**.

Click the **Save** button after you’ve filled out the details of the question before proceeding onto **Question Options**.

![EM_redesign_pre_election_edit_questions_details3_fixed](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_redesign_pre_election_edit_questions_details3_fixed.png)

## Reordering Questions

After you have created multiple **Questions**, you may adjust their order and placement on the election ballot. To do so, simply click on the **Reorder Questions** button to enter reordering mode.

![EM_pre_election_reorder_questions_With_proof_button](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_pre_election_reorder_questions_With_proof_button.png)

Once you are in reordering mode, you can click anywhere on a **Question** and then **drag and drop** them into a new order. Once finished, click the **Save Changes** button. A green **Success Message** will briefly display in the bottom right corner of your screen.

![EM_pre_election_reorder_questions_animated](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/EM_pre_election_reorder_questions_animated.gif)

If you wish to exit the mode or to discard your order and return to the previously saved order, simply click the **Cancel Reordering** button.