---
title: "Populating the Election Ballot"
slug: "populating-the-election-ballot"
updated: 2025-08-25T13:21:47Z
published: 2025-08-26T18:14:28Z
canonical: "help.simplyvoting.com/populating-the-election-ballot"
---

> ## 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.

# Populating the Election Ballot

Once you are done processing nominations (and once the **confirmation period** is finished, if applicable), you may create the election ballot.

To start populating the election ballot, at the bottom of the **Nomination Results** page, click on **Populate.**

![](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/image(211).png)

In the window that opens, define the **Election Name** for the ballot.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/image(219).png)

## Include pending confirmations

> [!WARNING]
> This feature requires the [**Allow nominees to confirm their nomination**](/v1/docs/nomination-election-details#allow-nominees-to-confirm-their-nomination) setting to be enabled in **Election Details** prior to finalization.

By default, only nominees who have **Accepted** their nomination are included on the ballot.

To include nominees whose confirmation is still marked as **Pending**, check the box next to **Include pending confirmations**.

Candidates whose nomination was **Declined** will always be excluded.

For more information about the nominee confirmation process, see: [Nominee Confirmation Process](/v1/docs/nominee-confirmation-process)

## Include pending approvals

By default, only nominees you have marked as **Approved** are included on the ballot.

To include nominees whose status is still marked as **Pending**, check the box next to **Include pending approvals**.

Candidates marked **Disapproved** will always be excluded.

For more information about approving and disapproving nominees, see: [Approving & Disapproving Nominees](/v1/docs/nomination-results-reports#approving-disapproving-nominees)

## Next steps

Once the parameters above are defined, click the **Populate** button.

A **Draft** election is automatically created with the nomination election’s questions, candidates, photos, and statements (if applicable).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/a78bcdfe-0fc1-4248-a709-1fe58ecd1ca1/Images/Documentation/image(220).png)

To continue setting up your **Draft** election, navigate to the [**Elections**](https://www1.simplyvoting.com/manage/elections-page) page and proceed to **View** the election from the **Action** column.

For more information about managing an election, see [**Election Management**](/v1/docs/election-manager).