What is Dot Voting?

Dot Voting is a quick prioritization technique where each participant spends a limited number of votes (dots) on the options they care about most. The options with the most dots rise to the top, giving the group a fast, transparent way to decide without long debate. The QRetro template keeps it simple with two columns.

Topics — the themes or categories up for prioritization.
Ideas — the specific options people vote on.

Topics

Topics group related options so voting stays focused. Use this column to frame the areas under discussion — for example feature areas, problem spaces or workshop themes — before people add concrete ideas underneath.

Ideas

Ideas are the individual cards participants will vote on. Encourage clear, self-contained wording so everyone interprets each option the same way. Once the list is ready, voting reveals the collective priority at a glance.

Benefits of Dot Voting

Reaches a decision quickly, even in large groups.
Gives every participant an equal, visible say.
Cuts down on circular debate and dominant voices.
Surfaces the group's true priorities transparently.
Works for backlog grooming, planning and idea selection alike.
Easy to run remotely with no extra setup.

How to run a Dot Voting session

Create a board in QRetro using the Dot Voting template.
Add the topics you want the group to consider.
Invite participants to add ideas as cards under each topic.
Set how many votes each person gets and open voting.
Let everyone place their dots on the ideas they value most.
Sort by votes, discuss the top results and agree on next steps.