NEWS & EVENTS
Welcome to our news and events section keeping you up to date on all the latest news, press releases and forthcoming events. Please click on a title for further details.
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LATEST NEWS

May 2008

Successful Delivery of May Election

OPT2VOTE is proud of the overall performance and delivery of our products and services during the May 2008 election. The success achieved this year has been largely down to our dedicated staff who worked alongside our partners and the Advisory Group to improve the product set. The outcome is very positive with the successful launch of EasyPrint and deployment of an enhanced Postal Vote Management Solution (PVMS). The feedback we have received on this year’s delivery speaks for itself:

Paula Bayes, Electoral Services Manager from Sandwell commented,

"This year OPT2VOTE gave a first class service with every aspect of the products they provided, from the proofing of the postal voting documents to the supply of the ballot papers all arriving before the scheduled dates and the fully managed system for checking the postal voting identifiers. OPT2VOTE has improved the service considerably, all the hard work put into working with their customers has paid off"

Colin Iveson, Head of Democratic Services at Craven District Council reinforced the positive impact of the work carried out on print by commenting,

“I’m really very grateful to OPT2VOTE for the postal vote ballot pack you supplied this year. The product is a great improvement on last year and I’m sure that is down to OPT2VOTE’s preparedness to learn through listening to its customers. In particular, your initiative, in setting up the customer liaison group with a view to improving the products and service you offer has played a key part in that process. I have no doubt that our postal voters found it easier to deal with the return of the pack. This is exemplified by the fact that we had fewer enquiries on the helpline and, more importantly, the number of postal votes rejected at opening because they were incorrectly completed was greatly reduced. I look forward to working with Opt2Vote in the future to make the product even better.”

Cheryl Mulvihill, Electoral Services Manager at Birmingham City Council commented,

“I have enjoyed working with OPT2VOTE throughout the year, culminating in a successful Election. Together, working through the User Group and continual reviews direct with OPT2VOTE, we planned, tried and tested all elements of the Postal Vote process. These included new innovations and developments to take the management service out to 18 remote count centres, the EasyPrint system of loading, proofing and sign off and also setting up the FTP method of transferring and checking of images at regular intervals.

OPT2VOTE had continual dialogue with all our suppliers, ensuring good integration between Halarose, our EMS, our Printer and IT service. The Remote Count Centres worked very well, and we will continue to use them. OPT2VOTE supplied the necessary training, and all staff coped with the stand alone scanners and PC’s. We look forward to developing and improving throughout next year, and have confidence that OPT2VOTE are able to provide the high level of service and accuracy required by an authority of this size and standing.”

ARCHIVED NEWS

December 2007

OPT2VOTE Recommended for ISO 27001

OPT2VOTE is delighted to announce that it has achieved a positive recommendation for registration to ISO 27001 Information Security Management certification. This is an excellent achievement and builds upon the Quality systems already in place.

December 2007

Oxfam Christmas Card Donation

As an alternative to spending money on the usual Christmas cards this festive season OPT2VOTE has decided to make a donation to Oxfam with the money saved on cards and postage. The donation has bought a bull which can significantly improve the future for an underpriviledged community. Further details of OPT2VOTE's donation can be found at: http://www.oxfamirelandunwrapped.com/cgi-bin/card.cgi?1196183995

OPT2VOTE hopes you will all agree that this is a very worthwhile alternative!

July 2007

OPT2VOTE Advisory Group

As part of its commitment to innovation, quality and meeting customer needs OPT2VOTE intends to engage customers further to promote feedback through the formation of an 'Advisory Group'. The overall aim is to gain in-depth feedback at a general and technical level from customers about current products and gain a better overall understanding of customer needs. This feedback will then be used to move forward and develop, strengthen and improve the OPT2VOTE product suite further.

The first Advisory Group workshop is scheduled for 9th & 10th August 2007 in Northern Ireland with further sessions planned to be held on a quarterly basis. Should you wish to be involved please contact Claire via email cneill@opt2vote.com

July 2007

Registration Update

Due to issues with the print industry during this years elections, OPT2VOTE has decided to withdraw from the provision of registration. This decision will enable OPT2VOTE to focus on improving internal processes and print for 2008.

February 2007
OPT2VOTE and Birmingham City Council agree 4 year working partnership

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February 2007
DCA Framework Agreement

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December 2006
OPT2VOTE Join Forces With Northgate Information Solutions

One of the most exciting partnerships in the elections industry to emerge over recent weeks has been forged between OPT2VOTE and Northgate Information Solutions.

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December 2006
Ann-Marie Brings Home Prestigious Blackberry Award!

Ann-Marie Slavin, the Managing Director of OPT2VOTE, has brought home to the company another major award from a ceremony in London to add to a growing collection of honours.

read more >>

EVENTS

SOLACE Enterprises Elections Conference

17th January 2008

Thistle Hotel, Marble Arch, London.

AEA Annual Conference

24th - 27th February 2008

Hilton Hotel, Blackpool.