Organisations trust online voting providers with some of their most valuable assets—not just votes, but member identities, contact details, shareholdings, membership records and election results.

That trust isn’t something that can be claimed with a marketing slogan. It has to be earned through strong security controls, independent audits and transparent governance.

Whether you’re running an AGM, committee election, enterprise agreement ballot or member survey, protecting personal information is just as important as ensuring every vote is counted accurately.

Here’s how Vero Voting approaches information security, and why it matters for Australian organisations.

Why protecting member information matters

Every election involves sensitive information.

Depending on the organisation, this could include:

If this information is exposed, altered or accessed without authorisation, the consequences extend far beyond inconvenience.

Potential risks include:

For organisations governed by the Privacy Act 1988, protecting personal information isn’t optional—it’s a legal responsibility. The Australian Privacy Principles require organisations covered by the Act to take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Security starts long before voting opens

Many people assume election security begins when members cast their votes.

In reality, it starts much earlier.

A secure election platform protects information throughout its entire lifecycle, including:

Every stage introduces different security risks that need to be managed carefully.

Australian data hosting reduces unnecessary risk

One of the simplest ways to reduce data exposure is keeping information within Australia.

Vero Voting stores customer data in Australian data centres rather than transferring sensitive election information overseas.

For many organisations—including government bodies, professional associations and listed companies—local data hosting supports:

While Australian privacy law doesn’t prohibit overseas data storage, organisations remain responsible for protecting personal information even when it’s handled by overseas providers.

Keeping election data in Australia removes an additional layer of complexity.

ISO/IEC 27001 certification demonstrates a mature security program

Security isn’t just about installing firewalls.

A secure organisation builds information security into its everyday operations.

Vero Voting is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022, the internationally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

Achieving certification requires an independent assessment of how an organisation manages information security risks across areas such as:

Importantly, certification isn’t permanent.

Independent surveillance audits are conducted regularly to ensure organisations continue meeting the standard.

SOC 2 Type II provides independent assurance

Security certifications tell only part of the story.

Vero Voting has also successfully completed a SOC 2 Type II audit.

Unlike a one-off assessment, a Type II audit evaluates how security controls operate over an extended period of time.

Independent auditors assess whether controls relating to:

are consistently operating effectively.

For organisations undertaking high-profile elections, this provides additional assurance that security practices are not simply documented—they are actually followed.

Protecting voter identity during authentication

Only eligible voters should be able to participate.

Authentication is therefore one of the most critical parts of any voting process.

Depending on the election, Vero Voting supports authentication methods such as:

These controls help prevent:

The level of authentication can be tailored to suit the organisation’s governance requirements.

Encryption protects information in transit

Whenever sensitive information moves across the internet, it should be encrypted.

Vero Voting uses modern TLS encryption to protect information transmitted between users and its systems, reducing the risk of interception during communication.

Encryption also forms part of broader security controls used to protect stored information and system communications.

Strict access controls limit who can view information

One of the most common causes of data breaches isn’t sophisticated hacking.

It’s excessive internal access.

Good security follows the principle of least privilege.

That means individuals only receive access to the information necessary for their role.

This reduces opportunities for accidental disclosure while strengthening accountability.

Access activity can also be monitored and audited where appropriate.

Every election produces a clear audit trail

Election integrity depends on more than secure voting.

It also requires transparency.

Vero Voting maintains detailed audit trails that record important system events throughout an election.

These records help demonstrate:

Comprehensive audit logs provide valuable evidence should election results ever need to be reviewed or independently verified.

Security also depends on people

Technology alone doesn’t prevent data breaches.

Human behaviour plays a significant role.

That’s why mature security programs include:

Security is an ongoing process—not a product.

Common misconceptions about online voting security

“Cloud-based voting isn’t secure.”

Cloud services can be highly secure when designed, configured and independently audited correctly.

Security depends on the provider’s controls—not simply whether systems are cloud-based.

“ISO certification means nothing can go wrong.”

No certification guarantees zero risk.

Instead, ISO 27001 demonstrates that an organisation has established a systematic approach to identifying, managing and continually improving information security risks.

“Password protection is enough.”

Modern election security requires multiple layers, including authentication, encryption, monitoring, audit logging, access controls and governance processes.

How Vero Voting helps organisations reduce risk

Running elections involves balancing accessibility with security.

Vero Voting helps organisations achieve both by providing:

These controls allow organisations to focus on member participation while maintaining confidence that sensitive information is being handled responsibly.

Key takeaways

Protecting member information is fundamental to election integrity.

Choosing a voting provider shouldn’t be based solely on features or convenience. Organisations should also consider where data is stored, whether security controls have been independently assessed, and how voter information is protected throughout the election lifecycle.

Independent certifications, transparent security practices and robust governance all contribute to stronger member confidence.

If your organisation manages elections involving personal or commercially sensitive information, investing in a secure voting platform helps protect both your members and your reputation.

If you’d like to learn more about secure online voting or see how Vero Voting protects election data, contact our team or request a personalised demonstration.

Sources

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (Privacy Act 1988): https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/the-privacy-act

Australian Privacy Principles: https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles

Australian Cyber Security Centre – Essential Eight: https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/essential-eight

Standards Australia – ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management: https://www.standards.org.au

AICPA – SOC for Service Organisations Overview: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/topic/audit-assurance/audit-and-assurance-greater-than-soc-2