What is Dot Voting?: How to use sticky colored dots to engage community

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What is Dot Voting?

Dot voting is a technique for semi-anonymous voting. Participants are given sets of colored sticky dots, which adhere to a variety of surfaces where available options are displayed. Participants place dots to indicate their chosen option. Dots can be of equal value or weight, or different colors can be used to rank choices (e.g., blue for top choice, yellow for second choice), or other voting preferences (e.g., green dot means affirmative, red dot means negative).

Advantages of Dot Voting

It's inclusive. Everyone has equal opportunity and equal input.
Simplifies a typically complex decision-making process into an enjoyable activity.
Highlights the group’s true priorities by quickly navigating through hesitation and time wasted going back and forth.
It's a visually vivid representation of preferences that clearly shows the group's shared interests.
Promotes reflection, urging participants to weigh what really matters.
It's low cost, easy to set up and use.

When to Use Dot Voting

Narrowing options (e.g., give participants multiple dots to narrow down multiple options, then one dot to determine the top option).
Determining priorities (e.g., top projects).
Finding out who is willing to work on a project (e.g., ask participants to put their initials on a dot).
Narrowing options (e.g., give participants multiple dots to narrow down multiple options, then one dot to determine the top option).
Determining priorities (e.g., top projects).
Finding out who is willing to work on a project (e.g., ask participants to put their initials on a dot

Best Practices

Decide whether dot color has meaning or not, and if so, assign colors appropriately.
Keep the number of options to about a dozen or less - too many can be overwhelming.
Avoid similar or related options, as these can cause vote-splitting.
Be clear with participants about how the process will work (e.g., use one dot per option, or allow participants to put multiple dots on a single option).
Give participants an adequate amount of time to vote.
Review the vote - once voting is closed, review what you see and check that the group shares your understanding. Unless you are using dot voting to make a quick decision about priorities, allocate time to discuss the results and the implications. If the results don't make sense, it may be necessary to reframe the question or options

How to Set Up Dot Voting

List the options - Write options on a flip chart, a white board or on sticky notes placed on a board, leaving enough room between options for multiple dots.
Cluster similar options to highlight themes and reduce split-voting.
Distribute the dots - Give participants a limited number of dots.
Clearly define the purpose of the vote and criteria, and the meaning of dot color (if any) to ensure meaningful participation.
Vote silently to avoid influencing other participants.
Evaluate the results. Discuss the outcomes to understand the collective preferences and decide on next steps.
Conduct additional votes to refine the options or to make final decisions.

How Many Dots to Use

If you are looking for the top X number of N total number of ideas: give each participant X + 1 dots or use weighted voting. (e.g., give participants 6 dots: 3 for top choice, 2 for second, and 1 for third. Participants cannot use all their dots for one option.)
To rank a set of N number of ideas: give each participant between N/2 and N/5 dots - this will allow you to categorize ideas into 3-5 bands of similar importance.
To discover importance/influence/commitment/vetoes: give participants 1 or more colored dots for each factor you are exploring (e.g., 1 color for a priority project, 1 color for a project to eliminate, etc.).