Association voting software is becoming a popular trend in Asia. In many ways, Asia is at the forefront of the digital transformation, including in elections processes. Transitioning to voting online is a logical step in increasing voter turnout and minimizing security risks.
Organizations in the Asian or Indo-Pacific regions can count on ElectionBuddy to administer association voting of all types. In these countries, access to in-person voting and government services can often be difficult.
This has led many governments and private institutions to place much of their bureaucracy in the cloud to enhance accessibility. The switch has paid massive dividends in both time and money saved.
Here are some considerations for online association elections in Asia:
China notwithstanding, much of Asia's astonishing success in access to broadband internet is due to the geographical size of many Asian countries. Less landmass and a denser population means high-speed internet infrastructure can be set up quickly and at lower costs.
Technologically speaking, many Asian countries are far ahead of Western nations in many ways thanks to their physical size and population.
The islands spanning much of Southeast and East Asia present unique hurdles for voter accessibility. This is especially true among the less fortunate who deserve a voice but cannot afford to travel to polling stations. Similarly, small associations, charities, and nonprofits often lack the funds to pay for member travel.
However, there’s little need for ships and planes to transport people for in-person association meetings and votes when they can be held online. Thankfully, smartphones and laptops are common in many Asian countries. These devices provide people with a way to voice their opinions from anywhere.
Voter trust is central to the legitimacy of a vote held by any organization. To ensure that votes are transparent and fair, platforms like ElectionBuddy use the latest encryption technologies.
Specifically, ElectionBuddy uses 256-bit encryption. This method has become the world standard for banks and other major institutions requiring high levels of security protocols. The same encryption algorithms are ideal for voting, no matter the organization. Only senders and recipients with unique IDs have access.
Other internet security protocols for cloud voting‒such as multi-factor identification‒play a key role in remote elections. These systems require passwords and secondary one-time codes designed to limit access to authorized users only.
After votes are complete, transparency is key to gaining a voter's trust. Voters should be provided with verifiable digital receipts as proof their votes have been recorded accurately.
Anonymity is also necessary for fair votes on controversial issues, so voters don’t have to worry about retaliation or repercussions for who they voted for. Unique IDs are not tied to voter identities, ensuring no interference from hostile parties.
The same principles that ElectionBuddy utilizes can also be used for secure online voting for African associations. The trends of that continent also point towards mass adoption of online payments and access to governmental services. To learn more, check out ElectionBuddy’s election resources today!