Why security and privacy are key
If you are the president, secretary or head of an association, you have surely asked yourself:
"What if I do an online vote and someone manipulates the results or my data is leaked?"
These concerns are entirely normal. Security and privacy are not just technicalities; they are the basis for your partners to trust the process, participate and respect the results. Especially cybersecurity.
Imagine that members feel the vote is unreliable. You could face challenges, distrust and legal problems. That's why we at Kuorum insist that protecting votes is both a legal and a credibility issue.
What the law and regulations say
Before organizing any online voting, it is important to be clear about the legal framework:
- RGPD: Protects participants' personal data. They should only be used for voting and deleted when no longer needed. More info at eur-lex.europa.eu.
- Law 5/2021 on associations: Mandates that votes be verifiable and that agreements be recorded(BOE).
- Cybersecurity certifications: Reliable platforms must guarantee confidentiality, integrity and traceability of votes. It is not enough that your provider assures that it complies. Always demand certifications from accredited auditing entities such as Aenor(CCN-CERT).
In other words, it's not just about technology, it's about complying with the law and building trust with your partners.
Best practices to protect your votes
For online voting to be secure and private, attention must be paid to several key details:
Reliable identification of participants
Before voting, each member must be securely identified, avoiding impersonation. This can be achieved with:
- Unique username and password.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
- Qualified certified identification systems in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation.
This ensures that each vote belongs to the right person and avoids legitimacy problems.
2. Secret and encrypted voting
The secrecy of the vote is fundamental. Every vote must be end-to-end encryptedso that only the system can count it, without anyone else being able to see or manipulate it.
3. Registration and traceability
It is important to maintain an immutable and verifiable record of every action during voting, without compromising the privacy of the members. This allows:
- Confirm that all votes were counted.
- Resolving doubts or challenges with transparency.
4. Secure access to the platform
Not all video call systems or online forms are suitable for voting. Make sure that:
- Only authorized participants may enter.
- The connection is protected by secure protocols (HTTPS/TLS).
- Your supplier has the appropriate certifications.
- The platform is kept constantly updated and monitored.
5. Data protection and confidentiality
Collect only the necessary information and treat it with care. Data must be stored securely and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations.
Tips to increase confidence and participation
- Explain how voting is protected: Members should feel secure and understand that their vote is secret and reliable.
- Offers technical support: Helps those who have difficulties with the platform.
- Pre-test: A simulated vote reduces errors and increases participants' confidence.
- Document everything: Keeping minutes, quorum and results records is the best legal and transparency guarantee.
Conclusion
Ensuring security and privacy in online voting is not optional: it is essential for members to trust, to comply with the law and for the results to be legitimate.
In addition to complying with regulations, secure voting encourages participation, builds trust and facilitates the management of your association.
If you want to organize secure, reliable and easy to use online voting , contact Kuorum for a demo. Our platform protects your elections while facilitating the participation of all members, including seniors or people with little digital experience.
