Is Best Western required to use an electronic or online voting system for all membership ballots?

According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, for all membership ballots, other than those conducted by a voice vote, Best Western is required to use an electronic or online voting system. This system must be confidential, auditable, and secure to ensure the integrity of the voting process. Additionally, the system must provide voter anonymity, protecting the privacy of individual members' choices. Finally, the system must produce accurate vote counts, ensuring that the results of any vote are reliable and verifiable.

This requirement ensures that Best Western maintains a fair and transparent voting process for its members. By using an electronic or online system, Best Western can facilitate broader participation and streamline the voting process. The confidentiality and anonymity features of the system are designed to encourage members to vote without fear of reprisal or influence. The auditability and accuracy requirements provide assurance that the results of the vote are valid and can be trusted by all members.

For a prospective franchisee, this indicates that Best Western is committed to modern and secure governance practices. Franchisees can be confident that their votes on important matters will be handled with care and that the results will accurately reflect the will of the membership. This can be a significant factor in building trust and confidence in the Best Western brand and its management.