Dot voting (dotmocracy)
A quick, visible way to see where a group leans before someone makes the call.
- Time
- 15 min
- People
- 5–12
- Kind of work
- Choose
In short
Dot voting is a quick way for a group to show which options it prefers. You state the selection question, give everyone the same number of sticky dots, and let people vote silently on options posted on a wall. You then record the reasons and any objections, and the decision owner chooses. It takes about 15 minutes.
What it is
Dot voting turns a long debate into a short, visible signal. Options sit on the wall. Each person gets the same allowance, often three to five dots, and places them on the options they think best answer one clear question. In a few minutes you can see where the energy is.
It is a tool for narrowing, not for deciding alone. The dots show preference, not truth. A popular option can still be wrong, and a single dot can sit on the best idea in the room. That is why a good dot vote ends with two things: the reasons behind the clusters, and the objections from people who voted differently. The owner then makes the decision with all of it in view.
When to use it
Use it when
- You have 8 to 30 options on the wall and need to shortlist a few for deeper work.
- Time is short and you want everyone's view, not only the most confident voices.
- After a brainstorm, design studio or affinity grouping, to see which themes or ideas the group wants to pursue.
- To pick which questions, problems or pain points to work on first in a workshop.
Skip it when
- The decision carries legal, safety or budget weight. Use a weighted decision matrix with evidence instead.
- There is a strong hierarchy and people will copy the most senior voter.
- There are only two or three options. Talk it through instead.
You need
- Time
- 10 to 20 minutes
- People
- 5 to 12 people, plus the person who owns the decision
- Materials
- Options written clearly on cards or notes, round sticky dots (3 to 5 per person), a marker for recording objections
How to run it
Step 1: Write the selection question
Agree one question the dots answer, and write it above the options. For example: 'Which of these ideas would most reduce wasted inspection visits in the next six months?' A vague question like 'Which do you like?' gives you a popularity contest.
Step 2: Tidy the options
Make sure each option is one clear idea, written large enough to read from two metres. Merge duplicates. Number the cards so people can refer to them. Give the group 3 minutes to read every option before anyone votes.
Step 3: Set an equal allowance
Give everyone the same number of dots. A simple rule is about one dot for every four or five options, with a minimum of three. Say whether people may stack more than one dot on a single option. Most groups allow it, but decide before voting starts.
Step 4: Vote silently, at the same time
Ask everyone to vote in silence, at once, within 3 minutes. Simultaneous voting reduces copying. If the room has a strong hierarchy, ask senior people to vote last, or let people mark their choices on paper first and then place dots.
Step 5: Read the pattern aloud
Count the dots and say what you see: clear leaders, a tie, a long tail. Write the totals on each card. Ask two or three people who voted for the leaders to say why in one sentence each.
Step 6: Record minority objections
Ask: 'Who sees a serious problem with the leading options?' and 'Is there a low-dot option we would regret dropping?' Write these down beside the cards. This step protects good ideas that the majority overlooked.
Step 7: Hand the choice to the owner
The decision owner states what moves forward and why, using the dots, the reasons and the objections. Fill the worksheet: option, votes, reason, objection. Then agree the next step for each chosen option.
Worked example
A municipal licensing department has a backlog of shop inspections. Some trade licence holders receive inspection dates months ahead. Nine staff from licensing, inspection and customer service meet to choose which of 14 improvement ideas to explore.
The facilitator writes the question: 'Which ideas would most cut the waiting time for a first inspection within six months, without new hires?' Each person gets four dots and may stack two on one card.
After 3 minutes of silent voting, three ideas lead: a self-check list that low-risk shops submit instead of a first visit (11 dots), grouping visits by district (8 dots), and online booking of inspection slots (7 dots). An idea to let inspectors start visits earlier in the morning gets only one dot.
Asked for objections, an inspector says the self-check list needs a spot-check rule or it could let unsafe shops through. The person who voted for the early-start idea explains that heat makes afternoon visits slower in summer, which nobody had considered.
The department head takes forward the self-check list with a spot-check rule and district grouping. She keeps the early-start idea for a small summer trial. The worksheet records each reason and objection so the team can explain the choice later.
IllustrativeTips and mistakes
Tips
- Use one colour of dot for everyone. Different colours by role can be useful, but they can also invite people to compare groups.
- Photograph the wall before anyone moves a card.
- If two options tie, ask what would have to be true for each to work, rather than running a second vote straight away.
- Keep the vote anonymous in spirit. Do not ask who placed which dot.
Common mistakes
- Treating the dot count as the decision. It is input for the owner.
- Voting without a clear question, so people vote on taste.
- Letting people vote one at a time in front of the group, which encourages copying.
- Throwing away low-dot options without asking if anyone has a strong case for one.
What you walk away with
You walk away with a shortlist of options, the reasons the group favours them, and a written record of objections and overlooked ideas. The owner's choice is visible and explained. Next, test the leading options more carefully with a weighted decision matrix, or place them on an impact-effort matrix to plan what to do first.
Questions people ask
How many dots should each person get?
A common rule is roughly one dot for every four or five options, with at least three per person. With 15 options, three or four dots works well. Too many dots spreads the signal thin, and too few hides second choices.
Can dot voting be done online?
Yes. Most online whiteboards have a voting feature or stamps that work like dots. Hide the results until everyone has voted, set a timer, and keep the step for objections, which is easy to skip online.
Dot voting or a weighted decision matrix?
Use dot voting to narrow many options fast. Use a weighted decision matrix when a few options remain and the decision needs agreed criteria and evidence. Many teams use dots first and the matrix second.
Tool card
The worksheet your team fills in, one box per field.
- Option
- Votes
- Reason
- Objection