Online vote for union elections
Every day more companies bet on telematic voting for their union elections. Electronic voting is especially useful in companies with a geographically dispersed workforce. And, in the context of the pandemic, it allows us to comply with the recommendation to limit interpersonal contacts and travel without undermining the employee rights.
Is the use of telematic voting legal in union elections?
The use of online voting in the election of workers’ representatives is not new. In 2015, the Madrid Social Court ruled in favor of the telematic vote. In the Sentence, of September 21, it is clarified that the use of this technology is legal as long as the security of the voting and the anonymity of the voters is guaranteed.
Union election votes must be personal, direct, free and secret. And online voting systems fulfill all these requirements.
What technical specifications are required?
Union elections can be very contentious. That is why it is important to have a supplier that provides us with all the guarantees, thus avoiding unwanted impugnments. At least, two important aspects should be taken care of: duly guaranteeing the identity of the voters and guaranteeing the integrity of the data. The first aspect refers to the electronic identification process, which in Europe is regulated by the Electronic Identification Regulation (REU 910/2014) and its Technical Safety Specifications (REU 1502/2015). The second points to the issuance of voting certificates admissible for trial as documentary evidence in case of impugnment.
If you are looking for an electronic voting service to cover union elections in your company, make sure that your supplier meets these two requirements.
What other technical aspects are important?
Another important factor when implementing electronic voting in our organization is personal data protection. The company, through the electoral board, must provide the provider of the electronic voting service with the labor census. For this, it is important to sign a Data Access Agreement in the terms established by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
On the other hand, the system we use must take maximum care of the pillars of information security: confidentiality, integrity and availability. There are certifications such as the National Security Scheme, which will help us identify those providers for whom security is a priority.
Differences between on- and offline voting
Union elections are complex processes. If we are going to give the option of telematic voting, the technology we choose will play an important role but it will not be the only aspect to take into account. In an online vote, the roles of the electoral board and the auditors can be altered. Since, for example, the count is done automatically. Also, voters will most probably exercise their right from home, away from the office.
Therefore, it is important to check what kind of helpdesk we are being offered. Will we have a direct telephone number that voters can call to resolve doubts and incidents? Will the board and the auditors be supported in carrying out their tasks? How long will it take to know the results? Will they provide us with a valid results act that we can present at the public registry office?
At Kuorum we have been organizing secure online polls for more than five years. If you need support with the organization of your telematic union elections, don’t hesitate to contact us.