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This guide will help you navigate the Consensus platform as a voter, from registration through casting your vote.

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Getting Started

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Voter Registration

Before you can vote, you need to register for an account.
1

Navigate to Registration

Go to the registration page by clicking the “Register” link on the homepage or navigating to /register.
2

Fill Out Registration Form

Provide the following information:
  • Name: Your full name
  • Email: A valid email address
  • Password: A secure password for your account
Complete any CAPTCHA verification if enabled.
3

Submit Registration

Click the registration button to submit your information. You’ll be automatically logged in and redirected to a success page.
4

Wait for Approval

Your registration will be reviewed by an administrator. You’ll see one of three statuses:
  • Pending: Awaiting admin approval (you cannot vote yet)
  • Approved: You can now participate in elections
  • Rejected: Your registration was not approved (contact an administrator)
If your organization has auto-approval enabled, you’ll be approved automatically and can vote immediately!

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Logging In

Once registered, you can log in to access your voter dashboard.
1

Navigate to Login

Go to /login or click the “Login” link from the homepage.
2

Enter Credentials

Provide your registered email and password.
3

Access Dashboard

After successful login, you’ll be redirected to your voter dashboard at /dashboard.

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Voter Dashboard

Your dashboard is your central hub for all voting activities. It displays:
  • Registration Status: Whether you’re pending, approved, or rejected
  • Pending Votes: Number of elections awaiting your vote
  • Votes Cast: Total number of elections you’ve voted in
  • Voter Status: Shows “Verified” when approved
  • Quick Actions: Direct links to vote in available elections
  • Recent Activity: Your recent voting history
If your registration is pending, you’ll see a notice on your dashboard and won’t be able to vote until approved.

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Casting Your Vote

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Finding Elections

There are two ways to find available elections:
  1. From Your Dashboard: Click on any election listed under “Quick Actions”
  2. Browse All Elections: Navigate to /elections to see all active elections

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Voting Process

1

Select an Election

Click on an election you want to vote in. You’ll only see elections that:
  • Are currently open (between start and end dates)
  • You haven’t already voted in
  • You’re approved to vote in
2

Review Election Details

On the voting page, you’ll see:
  • Election name and description
  • Election type (FPTP, STV, AV, or Preferential)
  • List of candidates with their party and biography
  • Start and end dates
3

Make Your Selection

Depending on the election type:First Past The Post (FPTP):
  • Select one candidate by clicking their radio button
STV/AV/Preferential:
  • Rank candidates in order of preference
  • Drag and drop candidates to reorder them
  • You can rank all or just some candidates
4

Complete CAPTCHA

If enabled, complete the CAPTCHA verification.
5

Submit Your Vote

Click the “Cast Vote” button to submit your ballot.
6

Receive Confirmation

You’ll be redirected to a confirmation page showing:
  • Confirmation ID (unique identifier for your vote)
  • Timestamp of when you voted
  • Election name
Save or print this confirmation for your records.
Once you cast your vote, you cannot change it. Make sure you’re satisfied with your selection before submitting.

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Understanding Election Types

First Past The Post (FPTP)
  • Choose one candidate
  • The candidate with the most votes wins
  • Simple majority system
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
  • Rank candidates in order of preference
  • Votes are transferred if your first choice is eliminated
  • Ensures proportional representation
Alternative Vote (AV)
  • Similar to STV but for single-winner elections
  • Rank candidates by preference
  • If no candidate gets 50%, lowest is eliminated and votes redistributed
Preferential Voting
  • Rank candidates in order of preference
  • Your preferences are used to determine the winner

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Managing Your Account

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Viewing Your Profile

Navigate to /profile to view and update your account information.

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Updating Your Information

1

Go to Profile Page

Click on your name or navigate to /profile.
2

Update Details

You can modify:
  • Name: Update your display name
  • Email: Change your email address
  • Password: Set a new password (requires current password)
3

Save Changes

Click “Update Profile” to save your changes.

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Viewing Your Voting History

Navigate to /confirmations to see all your past votes, including:
  • Election names
  • Vote timestamps
  • Confirmation codes
1

Access Voting Record

Navigate to /confirmations or click “My Voting Record” from your dashboard.
2

View Confirmations

See a list of all elections you’ve voted in with confirmation details.
3

Print Receipts

Click on any confirmation to view a printable receipt.

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Best Practices

Secure Your Account
  • Use a strong, unique password
  • Don’t share your login credentials
  • Log out after voting on shared computers
Save Your Confirmations
  • Print or screenshot your vote confirmation
  • Store confirmation codes securely
  • Use confirmations to verify your vote was recorded
Vote on Time
  • Check election end dates
  • Vote early to avoid last-minute technical issues
  • Elections close automatically at the end date
Research Candidates
  • Review candidate biographies and party affiliations
  • Take your time to make an informed decision
  • You cannot change your vote after submission

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Troubleshooting

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I can’t log in

  • Verify your email and password are correct
  • Check if login is enabled (may be temporarily disabled by administrators)
  • Contact an administrator if you’ve forgotten your password

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My registration is pending

  • Wait for an administrator to review your registration
  • Contact an administrator if it’s been pending for an extended period
  • Check your voter status on the dashboard

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I can’t see any elections

  • Make sure you’re approved to vote (check dashboard status)
  • Elections must be active and within their voting period
  • You won’t see elections you’ve already voted in

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I already voted in this election

  • Each voter can only vote once per election
  • Check your voting history at /confirmations to verify
  • Contact an administrator if you believe this is an error

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Account Deletion

You have the right to delete your account under GDPR.
1

Go to Profile

Navigate to /profile.
2

Find Delete Account Section

Scroll to the account deletion section.
3

Confirm Deletion

Enter your password to confirm account deletion.
4

Account Removed

Your account and personal data will be permanently deleted.
Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All your voting confirmations will also be removed.

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Security & Privacy

Consensus takes your privacy seriously:
  • Anonymous Voting: Your vote is separated from your identity
  • Secure Storage: Passwords are securely hashed
  • Vote Confirmations: Cryptographic proof of your vote without revealing choices
  • GDPR Compliant: Right to access and delete your data
Administrators cannot see who you voted for, only that you voted in a particular election.

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