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Phases of an electronic voting platform

An electronic voting platform can be used for any type of online voting (union elections, boards of directors, etc.).

Electronic voting, which must comply with all the security and confidentiality measures that guarantee the validity of the electoral process, complements postal voting and in-person voting.

Characteristics of an electronic voting platform

• It helps voters exercise their electoral rights by increasing the number of options available to them.
• Participation in electoral processes significantly increases with electronic voting.
• These platforms guarantee a direct, free, personal and secret vote.

5 phases of the electoral process in online voting

1. Receipt of the electoral roll

In the first phase, the electoral committee sends a list in digital format to the platform with the electoral roll, including the full name, ID number, email address (corporate for union elections) and gender of those considered part of the electoral roll.

2. Application and database configuration

Once this process has taken place, the electronic voting platform generates an online facility for the specific electoral process. Therefore, the electoral roll turns into the database; generating personal access credentials for each voter.

3. Communication of access credentials

In this phase, an email is sent to all voters on the electoral roll, including the personal access credentials for each of them, with a link to access the voting page and basic instructions about the process.

4. Opening of the online electoral process

Following the instructions of the electoral committee, the voting website is enabled during the dates defined in the process. If a voter who has already voted logs on to the platform again, the system notifies them that they have already voted and cannot continue with the process.

5. Closing the voting, sending the certificate with participation and results

Access to the platform is disabled on the day and at the time indicated by the electoral committee, and two different certificates are then sent:

• Electoral roll indicating the voters who have voted electronically
• Results aggregated by candidate

Conclusion

One of the consequences of the digital transformation of companies is the modernisation and automation of all their processes in search of benefits such as greater security, efficiency, speed and cost savings. In the case of voting, this is achieved through Electronic Voting Platforms.