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Workshop Exercises: Decide

Blind Voting

Neutralize dominating personalities & opinions by voting anonymously

Illustration of Blind Voting
Run a Blind Voting play

Why: Address unequal power dynamics and dominant voices and give room to quieter or less assertive participants

When: Use to gather unbiased input or make decisions requiring collective agreement without the influence of external factors

Instructions for running this play

  1. Clearly mark each option you are voting on with a number. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
  2. Ensure the group understands each option so that the group understands what they are about to vote on.
  3. Ask the group to individually write down the numbers of the items they are voting for on a sticky note and to cast their vote in a box. Each participant can vote on three items.
  4. Collect the votes from each participant, count them and write the vote count for each option so that everyone can see the results.

Tips to perfect this play

Master and adapt the play to fit your context and needs.

Tip

Divide the voting process into two stages. In the first stage, participants anonymously vote individually. Then, in the second stage, participants openly discuss the results and collectively decide on the final outcome.

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