The Law Society
"The system has transformed the method by which voting is recorded
at Council meetings and it provides a speedy, secure and democratic
voting process".
The Law Society
Case StudyFollowing the installation of IML's ultramodern
electronic voting system in 2001, The Law Society commissioned IML
once more to design a portable electronic voting system with
integrated microphones and wireless load speaker
capabilities.
Client background
Previously, The Law Society Council had operated a 'show of
hands’ voting system to capture their members’ votes. This rendered
Council meetings inefficient and slow, as votes had to be manually
counted and verified before results could be released.
A further drawback to a ‘show of hands’ voting system was that
manually counted results could not be proven 100% accurate.
Recognising the need for an electronic voting system that could
automate voting and guarantee instant and accurate results, The Law
Society approached IML to design and install a system into the
prestigious Law Society Hall.
By 2005 however, the Society had increased its membership from
70 to 100 and Council meetings had to be relocated to a larger room
that could accommodate all members.
Still needing to engage an electronic voting system, the Law
Society called upon the services of IML once more; this time with a
new and challenging brief.
The challenge
Installing an electronic voting system into the new meeting room
was not an option, as an installation would affect the
architectural heritage of the room, which is primarily used for
private functions and ceremonies.
The Law Society also found that the grandness of the room made
it difficult for members’ to hear each other during Council debates
and discussions.
IML were therefore tasked with designing a portable electronic
voting and microphone system that was fast and easy to set-up and
dismantle.
Voting
As part of the original installation design brief, IML developed
unique voting software to automate the Law Society’s long
established voting practices.
Members’ simply use their keypad to register a vote by pressing
1, 2 or 3 on their keypad. These numbers correlate with the options
presented to them on screen. For example 1 = For, 2 = Against and 3
= Abstain.
Once Members have cast their vote, a message instantly appears
on their keypad screen, confirming that their vote has been
successfully registered by the system.
A seating plan shown on the main AV screen displays a ‘V’ over
members’ seats, signifying that they have cast their vote. This
also provides further confirmation that votes have been
registered.
The seating plan is displayed in reverse to the Chairman, who is
able to see how many members are still left to vote.
Immediately after the vote has closed, the results appear at the
top of the Chairman’s screen and are displayed live, in chart form
to the audience, with results for ‘For’ and ‘Against’ worked out as
a percentage that excludes abstained voting figures.
The system also facilitates identified voting, instead of a ‘V’
appearing over each seat when members have voted, the letters ‘A’
(Against), ‘F’ (For) or the symbol ‘?’ (Abstain) appears over the
seats to indicate how each member has voted.
Members are allocated to a specific seat and are identified by
their seat number.
A full audit trail of voting is made available, alongside
printed scoreboards, detailing every members vote per motion.
Microphones
IML integrated microphone and loud speaker capabilities into the
electronic voting system using the in-built microphone feature on
the keypads.
The system requires no loud speakers or cables. Instead, members
sit three to a table with a fourth IML keypad used as a loud
speaker.
Members wishing to speak, simply invoke the press to talk button
on their keypad and address the Council by either speaking into
their keypad or using a tie-clip microphone.
As soon as a members’ microphone is activated, the fourth keypad
on their table automatically mutes to prevent feedback.
A picture of the speaker automatically appears on the main AV
screen, enabling members to see who is speaking, whilst indicating
to the speaker that their microphone is live.
A countdown clock running on the Chairman’s screen provides the
Chairman with greater control over debates and ensures that members
do not speak beyond their allotted time limit. If another member
wishes to interject, the Chairman can pause the speakers’ clock and
re-start it after the interjection.
IML’s microphone system has transformed the Law Society’s
debating methods into a faster, fairer, more democratic process, as
all members have equal access to a microphone and time limits
ensure more members are given an opportunity to speak.
Other benefits
IML’s mobile voting system is compact, lightweight and easy to
transport.
Keypads are re-charged in their storage boxes, saving time and
space.
Full audit reports can be printed at the end of the meeting.
The system has the ability to record speeches.