No website can stop election fraud on its own. But research points to what changes behaviour: people are less likely to cheat when they expect to be checked, cheating is harder to hide when independent records are compared, and citizens act when acting is easy, safe, and leads somewhere.
1. Expecting to be checked
In Uganda's 2011 election, researchers told a random set of polling stations that their results would be photographed and compared with official tallies. Those stations were more likely to post their results, and showed less sign of altered tallies.
What we built: Watch your polling unit, with a public count of watched units and a notice for polling officials, and Proof of Result.
2. Asking people to report
A large field experiment in Colombia used social media adverts, reaching millions of voters, to encourage people to report irregularities. It led to more reports, including reports backed by evidence, and less irregular activity.
What we built: a share kit with tracked links, so we can see which messages bring people in, and a short, anonymous report form.
3. Showing that reports lead somewhere
Kenya's Uchaguzi platform published thousands of citizen reports during the 2013 election and verified many of them. People are more willing to report when they believe it makes a difference.
What we built: every report gets a reference number and a public trail from received to resolved. Track a report.
4. Checking the count independently
Parallel Vote Tabulation uses a scientific random sample of polling units, observed independently, to check the official result. Nonpartisan observer groups around the world use it, following published standards.
What we built: a PVT whose sample is sealed with a fingerprint before election day and revealed afterwards, so anyone can check it was not chosen after the fact.
NDI: Process and Results Verification for Transparency guide
5. Trained observers with simple tools
Studies of domestic observers, including a randomised evaluation in Mozambique, found that observation reduced some signs of ballot fraud. Systematic reporting also closes the information gap that lets problems go unrecorded.
What we built: observer accounts with a short election-day checklist at each stage, and result photos at their units.
Our principles
- Raise the chance of being checked. Every result can be compared with independent copies.
- Make changes impossible to hide. Original records are kept and fingerprinted on a public record.
- Make reporting easy and safe. No technical skill needed, no name required, no danger asked of anyone.
We do not accuse people. We show the evidence and let the numbers speak.