VotePulse User Manual

Getting Started as Admin

As an Admin, you have the highest level of access within your organization. You can manage all aspects of the voting system, from user management to election oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage organization profile and settings
• Create and manage user accounts (Election Officers and Voters)
• Oversee all elections within the organization
• Review election results and analytics
• Manage system configurations and permissions

Managing Users

1. Navigate to Users from the dashboard
2. Click Add New User button
3. Fill in user details (name, email, role)
4. Assign appropriate permissions
5. Click Create User to save

Users will receive an email with login credentials and instructions.

Organization Management

Admins can update organization details, including:

• Organization name and description
• Contact information
• Branding and logo
• Email notification settings

Election Oversight

As an Admin, you can:

• View all elections in your organization
• Monitor election progress in real-time
• Access comprehensive election reports
• Export results and analytics
• Intervene in case of issues (with proper logging)

Role Overview

Election Officers are responsible for creating, managing, and conducting elections. You ensure that elections run smoothly from nomination to result publication.

Creating an Election

1. Go to Elections and click Create New Election
2. Enter election details:
   • Election title and description
   • Nomination start and end dates
   • Voting start and end dates
   • Election type and rules
3. Configure voting settings:
   • Number of positions available
   • Voting method (single choice, multiple choice, ranked)
   • Results visibility settings
4. Add eligible voters (manually or import from list)
5. Review and publish the election

Managing Nominations

During the nomination period:

• Review incoming nominations
• Approve or reject nominations based on eligibility criteria
• Request additional information from nominees if needed
• Monitor nomination deadline

Managing the Voting Process

1. Before Voting:
   • Verify all approved candidates are listed correctly
   • Test the voting interface
   • Send reminder notifications to voters
2. During Voting:
   • Monitor voter participation rates
   • Respond to voter inquiries
   • Track system performance
3. After Voting:
   • Verify voting has closed properly
   • Generate preliminary results
   • Prepare for result publication

Publishing Results

1. Navigate to the completed election
2. Click View Results
3. Review the results for accuracy
4. Click Publish Results to make them public
5. Export results as PDF for official records

Getting Started

As a Voter, you can participate in elections by submitting nominations and casting your vote. The voting process is designed to be simple, secure, and anonymous.

Accessing Elections

1. You will receive an email notification when an election is available
2. Click the link in the email or visit the voting portal directly
3. Enter your Voter ID and the election-specific password
4. View available elections and their status

Submitting a Nomination

If nominations are open and you wish to run as a candidate:

1. Navigate to the election
2. Click Submit Nomination
3. Fill in the nomination form:
   • Your name (auto-filled from Voter ID)
   • Position you're running for
   • Brief statement or manifesto
   • Optional: Upload a photo
4. Review and submit your nomination
5. Wait for Election Officer approval

You will receive a notification once your nomination is reviewed.

Casting Your Vote

1. Access the election during the voting period
2. Review all approved candidates and their information
3. Select your preferred candidate(s):
   • For single-choice elections: select one candidate
   • For multiple-choice: select up to the allowed number
   • For ranked voting: rank candidates in order of preference
4. Review your selections carefully
5. Click Submit Vote
6. Confirm your submission in the popup dialog

After Voting

• You will see a confirmation message after successful vote submission
• Your vote is recorded anonymously and securely
• You cannot vote again in the same election
• Results will be available after the election closes (if configured as public)

Viewing Results

Once results are published:

1. Visit the election page
2. Click View Results
3. See the vote counts and winners
4. Download the official results PDF if needed

Vote Anonymity

VotePulse employs advanced security measures to ensure complete vote anonymity:

• Votes are encrypted and stored separately from voter identities
• No one, including administrators, can link a vote to a specific voter
• System logs are maintained for audit purposes without compromising anonymity

Data Protection

• All data is encrypted in transit and at rest
• Regular security audits and updates
• Compliance with data protection regulations
• Secure backup and disaster recovery procedures

Best Practices for Users

Common Issues and Solutions

Browser Compatibility

VotePulse works best with modern web browsers:

• Google Chrome (version 90+)
• Mozilla Firefox (version 88+)
• Safari (version 14+)
• Microsoft Edge (version 90+)

For best experience, keep your browser updated to the latest version.

Getting Help

If you need additional assistance:

• Voters: Contact your Election Officer or organization admin
• Election Officers: Contact your organization admin
• Admins: Contact VotePulse support through the contact form