Election Messages are emails you can send to your voters, non-voters and election candidates.
Election Messaging enables you to:
- Quickly provide candidates with information about last-minute changes or other important information without delay
- Keep a written record of updates sent to candidates so you know that all candidates received the same information at the same time
- Encourage voter turnout by emailing users who haven't yet voted, reminding your members of the importance of voting and encouraging them to make their voices heard
- Provide information about polling station locations, voting procedures and other news related to the election, ensuring your voters can navigate the process easily
- Better understand how your candidates, voters and non-voters found the election experience by directing them to surveys
All personal, financial, and other data belonging to voters, non-voters and candidates is kept secure within the MSL System.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Voters Compose Message Fields
- Non-Voters Compose Message Fields
- Candidates Compose Message Fields
- Voters, Non-Voters and Candidates Message Editor Fields
- Message Tokens
You can access this feature from your MSL website. Only Content Editors with access to Elections Admin can access the Election Messages window.
The Non-Voters section of the Election Messages window filters out posts that have no requirements, preventing accidental mass messaging to all registered, eligible users.
You may want to include a URL to redirect your members straight to the ballot page, via the Single-Sign-On login, in the body of your message. For further information, see How to Create an SSO Quicklink URL for Page Access.
For further information, see Elections Overview.
Voters Compose Message Fields
This table lists and explains the fields in the Voters Compose Message section.
| Field Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Posts | This field lists the post or posts belonging to the election. Select/Deselect the Posts checkbox(es) to filter the voters you wish to contact. Only posts with approved non-RON candidates are listed. |
| Date Range | If required, set a date range for voters for the selected post(s). From and To dates are optional; if left blank the message is sent to all voters for the selected posts. |
For further information, see How to Message Election Voters.
Non-Voters Compose Message Fields
This table lists and explains the fields in the Non-Voters Compose Message section.
| Field Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Posts | This field lists the post or posts belonging to the election. Select/Deselect the Posts checkbox(es) to filter the eligible non-voters you wish to contact. Only posts with approved non-RON candidates are listed. |
For further information, see How to Message Election Non-Voters.
Candidates Compose Message Fields
This table lists and explains the fields in the Candidates Compose Message section.
| Field Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Posts | This field lists the post or posts belonging to the election. Select/Deselect the Posts checkbox(es) to filter the candidates you wish to contact. Only posts with non-RON candidates are listed. |
| Status | This field lists the different statuses you assign to candidates. Select/Deselect the Status checkbox(es) to message the candidates you wish to contact. The options are:
|
| Manifesto | This field lists the manifesto submission statuses. Select the relevant radio button to message candidates based on their manifesto submission status. The options are:
|
For further information, see How to Message Election Candidates.
Voters, Non-Voters and Candidates Message Editor Fields
This table lists and explains the fields in the Voters, Non-Voters and Candidates Compose Message dialog.
| Field Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| From name | This is the sender’s name. This becomes the Display Name for the Organisation to which the election belongs. |
| From address | This is the email address for the Organisation to which the election belongs. |
| Estimated recipients | This indicates how many candidates, voters or non-voters have email addresses and have opted-in to emails from the Organisation running the election. If there are none, a status message is displayed: 'There are no estimated recipients for this message'. |
| Subject | This is the subject line for the email. |
| Body | This is the main text of the email. You can insert as much text as you want, including supporting links and images. You can also use Message Tokens to insert additional, automated election information. For further information, see Message Tokens. The Email Editor Toolbar can be edited to add or remove the available buttons. |
| Sending time (optional) | Messages are sent immediately unless a date/time is specified. The Sending time field is displayed only if delayed sending is enabled at the Organisation level, at which point you will be given the option to specify a sending time. The recipient list is set at the point of composing, not at the date and time the message is sent. If further nominations are received or votes are cast after the message has been scheduled, those recipients will not automatically receive the message when the sending time is reached. |
Message Tokens
Tokens can be used in the body of a message to add custom details to its content.
This table lists and explains the available tokens.
| Token Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| {ELECTION_TITLE} | This token adds the election name to the body of the message. |
| {ORGANISATION_NAME} | This token adds the name of the organisation to which the election belongs to the body of the message. |
| {POLLING_START_DATE} | This token adds the polling period start date to the body of the message. |
| {POLLING_END_DATE} | This token adds the polling period end date to the body of the message. |
| {POLLING_START_TIME} | This token adds the polling period start time to the body of the message. |
| {POLLING_END_TIME} | This token adds the polling period end time to the body of the message. |
| {POST_NAME} | This token adds the post name to the body of the message. This token returns a post name if only one post is selected on the Elections Messages window. If more than one post is selected, this token returns no content. |
Some additional placeholders can be added to your message body using information stored in the voter, non-voter and candidate's user accounts.
Insert as follows:
- Insert {firstname} to insert the recipient’s first name
- Insert {lastname} to insert the recipient’s last name