Understanding the Voting System
How credit-based weighted voting works in UserVote
UserVote uses a sophisticated credit-based voting system that allows users to express not just what they want, but how much they want it. This system ensures that feedback is prioritized based on genuine customer interest.
How Voting Works
Unlike simple upvote systems, UserVote's voting system gives you credits that you allocate across ideas:
- Each product has a separate credit pool for you
- You can allocate 1 or more credits to any idea
- Allocating more credits shows stronger interest
- You can redistribute your credits at any time
- Credits are released when ideas are closed (Completed, Declined)
- Vote counts are preserved for historical purposes even after credits are returned
Vote Credits
Vote credits are your voting currency:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Credits are per-product (e.g., 10 credits for Product A, 10 for Product B) |
| Minimum Vote | 1 credit per idea |
| Maximum Vote | Limited by product settings (typically 5-10 per idea) |
| Auto-Vote | Submitting an idea uses 1 credit automatically |
| Redistribution | Remove votes to free up credits for other ideas |
| Credit Return | When ideas are closed with "returns votes" enabled |
| Vote Preservation | Vote counts remain visible for historical purposes even after closure |
Vote Weight & Tiers
Not all votes are equal. Your vote weight is determined by your user tier:
| Tier | Vote Weight | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Free/Basic | 1.0x | 3 credits = 3 vote points |
| Pro/VIP | 2.0x | 3 credits = 6 vote points |
| Enterprise | 3.0x | 3 credits = 9 vote points |
This means enterprise customers have more influence on prioritization, reflecting their higher business value.
Important: Vote weight is snapshotted when you vote. If your tier changes later, existing votes keep their original weight.
Viewing Your Votes
You can track your voting activity:
- On idea cards: Shows if you've voted and how many credits
- Idea detail page: Displays your current allocation
- My Favorites: See all ideas you've voted on
- Credit display: Shows remaining credits for each product
Voting Best Practices
Get the most out of your votes:
- Prioritize: Allocate more credits to ideas you really need
- Spread votes: Don't put all credits on one idea
- Re-evaluate: Redistribute when priorities change
- Watch for completion: Credits return when ideas are completed
- Follow ideas: Stay updated on ideas you've voted for
Voting Restrictions
There are some cases where you cannot vote:
- Closed Status Ideas: Cannot vote on Completed, Declined, or other closed status ideas
- Access Restrictions: Must have access to the product to vote
- Authentication: Must be logged in to vote
- Credit Limit: Cannot exceed maximum votes per idea