---
title: "Feature 2026: Comments on ballot papers | Feedback in online elections | Substitutions, nominations and reasons for votes"
description: With comments on ballot papers, voters enter reasons, nominations or information directly. Read how you can use them to improve your votes:
image: https://blog.nemovote.com/hubfs/Marketing/Assets/Blog/Pictures/Header/wahler-kommentare-online-nominierungen.gif
---

 Feb 27, 2026 9:00:01 AM

# 2026 Comments on ballots: Feedback and Nominations in online elections

![Picture of Aaron Lesicar](https://blog.nemovote.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Employee%20Images/aaron-lesicar.256x256%20Kopie.png?width=50&name=aaron-lesicar.256x256%20Kopie.png) [ Aaron Lesicar ](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/author/aaron-lesicar)

Feature 2026: Comments on ballot papers | Feedback in online elections | Substitutions, nominations and reasons for votes

7:07

**Comments on ballots** allow voters to leave reasons, nominations or additional information directly on the ballot. The feature makes online elections more interactive and gives organizations valuable feedback - without additional tools or surveys.

![text: Comment ballots as voter, enabling nominations, feedback, proxies and registrations. Mockup of Iphone with NemoVote ballot and comment field in a human hand, with comment icon](https://blog.nemovote.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Assets/Blog/Pictures/Header/wahler-kommentare-online-nominierungen.gif?width=1160&height=387&name=wahler-kommentare-online-nominierungen.gif)

### Chapter

1. [(TL;DR) Short and sweet](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#short-and-sweet)
2. [Why comments on ballots are useful](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#problem)
3. [How comments on ballots work](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#how-it-works)
4. [Use cases: From nominations to substitutions](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#use-cases) 
     1. [Justification](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#reasons)
     2. [Nomination](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#nominations)
     3. [Substitution](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#proxies)
     4. [Feedback](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#feedback)
5. [Technical details: anonymity, export and integration](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#technical-details)
6. [Conclusion: More interaction, more context](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-ballots-voter-feedback-nominations#conclusion)

### Short and sweet

With **comments on ballots**, voters can explain their decision directly, make nominations or provide additional information - all in the same system, without separate surveys or emails.

The feature **can be activated optionally**, works for secret and open elections and appears as a simple text field directly on the ballots. Admins see all comments in the results log and can optionally transfer them to the PDF export.

---

## Why comments on ballots are useful

Traditional online elections focus on yes/no or selection answers - but often the **context** is missing: Why was it voted this way? Who is being nominated? What additional information is relevant?

Without a comment function, organizations either have to create separate surveys, collect emails or do without feedback. This is inefficient and leads to data silos.

**Comments on ballots** solve the problem elegantly:

- Voters submit their vote *and* context in one step.
- Admins receive structured feedback directly in the voting system.
- No additional tools or processes required.

---

## How comments on ballots work

The function is deliberately kept simple and seamlessly integrated into the ballots.

![A mobile phone with online voter view displays the NemoVotes ballot. It contains a comment field. The text next to it reads: "Ballot with comment field. Text field below the selection options."](https://blog.nemovote.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Assets/Blog/Pictures/Articles/ballot-comment-field.webp?width=1160&height=580&name=ballot-comment-field.webp)

### Activation and visibility

- **Admins or **[organizers](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/roles-election-manager-organizer?hsLang=en) activate comments per election or per question.
- Voters see an **optional text field** directly on the ballot - below the choices, above the "Cast vote" button.
- Comments are **optional** - voting without comments is possible.

### Enter and submit

- Voters enter their comment as **free text** - there is no character limit.
- Comments are sent **together with the vote** and cannot be changed afterwards.
- No additional click, no separate step - all in one workflow.

### Anonymity and allocation

- In **secret elections**, comments remain anonymous - it is not possible to trace who wrote which comment.
- In (non-secret) **open elections**, comments are assigned to the person voting.
- Admins see comments in the **results log in NemoVote** and can optionally transfer them to the **PDF export**.

---

## Use cases: From justifications to substitutions

### Reasons for controversial votes

[Many union elections](https://blog.nemovote.com/increase-participation-success?hsLang=en) use comments during a vote on a **collective bargaining strike**. Some of the members use the field to justify their approval or concerns - the election management was delighted by the constructive encouragement in the comments.

### Nominations in open elections

In elections with open nominations, voters can propose names directly on the ballot:

- Ballot question: "Who do you nominate for the office of Treasurer?"
- Comment field: "I nominate Jane Doe, (because...)"

### Proxies and attendance information

[GO!](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-for-organizations/schools-universities-education-benefit?hsLang=en) and other customers use comments to clarify **attendance at meetings **in advance:

- Selection options: "I'm coming myself" / "No one is coming" / "A deputy is coming"
- Comment field: Name and contact details of the deputy + further information if necessary.

In this way, attendance organization is handled directly in the voting system - without separate Excel lists or emails.

### Feedback on resolutions or amendments to the articles of association

When voting on amendments to the articles of association or resolutions, members can express suggestions for improvement or concerns directly - even if they vote "yes".

---

## Technical details: anonymity, export and integration

![Tablet view of the election manager displaying the election results with voters' comments alongside the managers comments. Next to them the text: All comments at a glance. The administrator view displays all ballot comments one below the other, with the election supervisor's comments next to them.](https://blog.nemovote.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Assets/Blog/Pictures/Articles/comments-view-election-manager.webp?width=1160&height=580&name=comments-view-election-manager.webp)

### Immutability and sealing

- Comments **cannot be changed** after they have been submitted - just like the vote itself.
- In elections with **sealed voting**, comments are **also sealed** and only visible after the seal is broken.

### Visibility and export

- Comments appear in the **admin results log** directly next to the election results.
- They are displayed **together with admin/organizer comments** (from "Comment on vote") - so the entire context is in one place.
- Optionally, comments can be included in the **PDF export** - e.g. for minutes or documentation.

### Integration with other features

- **[Election manager roles](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/roles-election-manager-organizer?hsLang=en):** Organizers can see comments if they have been given permission.
- **[Vote commenting](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/comment-vote-election-protocol?hsLang=en):** Admin/Organizer comments and voter comments are displayed side by side in the results log.
- **[Sealed voting](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/sealed-voting?hsLang=en):** Comments remain sealed until the seal is broken.

### GDPR and data protection

Comments are treated like all other election data:

- In secret elections, comments are anonymous and not personal.
- In open elections, they are assigned to the person voting - in accordance with the GDPR with clear purpose limitation (election implementation).
- Storage is encrypted on EU servers, deletion after retention period.

---

## Conclusion: more interaction, more context

Comments on ballots are a simple but effective feature for organizations that want to get more than just numbers from their elections. They enable **direct feedback, justifications and additional information** - all in the same system, without media discontinuity.

Whether it's collective strike votes with constructive encouragement, proxy messages at meetings or nominations with context - comments on ballots make online elections more interactive and informative.

If you want to give your voters a voice - not only when voting, but also when explaining - this feature is the right choice.

[ Test Nominations, Reasoning or Proxies Free Now! ](https://nemovote.com/live-demo?hsLang=en)

 

[Feature Release](https://blog.nemovote.com/online-voting-technology-innovations/tag/feature-release)

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