Terms and Conditions

1. About SmartBallot

SmartBallot is an online voting and election management platform that enables users to:

• Conduct and monitor secure online voting
• View live election results
• Launch and sign recall petitions for elected officials
• Verify voters through secure registration
• Create candidate profiles with bios and manifestos
• Upload campaign content
• Participate in live debates
• Access election archives and analytics
• Organize school-level, community, or organizational elections

We aim to reduce electoral violence, increase transparency, and empower civic engagement using technology.

2. Legal Compliance

SmartBallot is developed and operated in compliance with:

• Nigerian laws, including the 1999 Constitution, NDPR, and INEC regulations
• Canadian laws, including PIPEDA and the Elections Act (where applicable)
• United States laws, including CCPA, COPPA, and applicable state-level privacy/election laws
• United Kingdom laws, including UK GDPR and Electoral Commission guidelines
• Applicable laws in other jurisdictions where the app is available

You are responsible for ensuring that your use of the app is compliant with local laws in your location.

3. Eligibility

To use the Platform, you must:

• Be at least 13 years old (or the minimum legal age in your jurisdiction)
• Have the authority to vote, register voters, or create elections within your institution/community

Not be previously banned from the Platform

4. User Accounts

1. Registration

You may be required to create an account by providing personal details such as:

• Full name
• Email/phone number
• Institutional ID (e.g., student ID)
• Password

2. Accuracy

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. Misrepresentation or impersonation may result in account suspension.

3. Security

You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials. Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized use of your account.

5. SmartBallot Features.

1. Online Voting System
   • Voters can cast secure, encrypted votes
   • Results are updated and displayed in real-time
   • One user = one vote (per election)

2. Candidate Profiles
   • Upload photos, bios, and manifestos
   • Engage with voters via in-app messaging or comments (if enabled)

3. Recall Petition Tool
   • Citizens/students can initiate recall of elected leaders
   • Requires minimum supporter thresholds to be submitted
   • Follows constitutional/legal requirements (e.g., INEC recall process)

4. Voter Registration
   • Uses biometric/photo ID or institutional verification (school email/ID)
   • Ensures only eligible voters participate

5. Live Result Monitoring

• Public dashboards for schools or institutions to monitor results transparently

6. Election Archive & Analytics
   • Stores past results
   • Displays voter turnout and participation rates

7. Debate Forum & Messaging
   • Enables structured online candidate debates (if enabled)
   • Provides private or group messaging (optional feature)

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform or its servers
• Impersonate others or use false information
• Post or share defamatory, offensive, or illegal content
• Tamper with election results or vote-counting systems
• Reverse-engineer or copy the app’s code or UI

Violations may result in suspension, deletion of your account, and legal action.

7. Intellectual Property

All content, software, design, logos, and trademarks on SmartBallot are the exclusive property of SmartBallot and its licensors. You may not reproduce or use any part of the Platform for commercial purposes without our written consent.

8. Third-Party Services

SmartBallot may integrate with third-party services (e.g., cloud providers, analytics tools, SMS/email gateways). We are not responsible for the terms or privacy practices of those providers.

9. Privacy

We are committed to protecting your personal data. Please review our full [Privacy Policy] for details about what data we collect and how we use it.

10. Disclaimers

• The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”
• We do not guarantee that elections will be error-free, uninterrupted, or completely secure
• We are not liable for outcomes of elections held through the app
• We do not endorse any candidate or campaign content

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, SmartBallot and its affiliates shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of data or reputation
• Unauthorized access to your account or data
• Any legal or institutional outcome of elections conducted via the platform

In any case, our total liability will not exceed the amount paid by you for using the service (if any).

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access if:

• You breach these Terms
• We are required to do so by law or authority
• You engage in behavior that endangers the platform’s integrity or other users

You may also delete your account at any time.

13. Jurisdiction-Specific Rights

Nigeria

• Users must comply with NDPR and applicable INEC guidelines
• Election organizers must ensure voter lists are legally obtained

Canada

• Compliant with PIPEDA
• Users may lodge complaints with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner

United States

• California users may exercise rights under the CCPA
• Users under 13 must have parental consent under COPPA

United Kingdom

• Users may contact the ICO if they believe their data rights have been infringed

14. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by:

• The laws of Ontario, Canada (where SmartBallotis registered)
• The laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where applicable to electoral use
• Subject to international jurisdiction where legally required

Any disputes shall be resolved through arbitration or in the courts of competent jurisdiction in either Canada or Nigeria, depending on the nature of the issue.

15. Updates to Terms

We may modify these Terms occasionally. Users will be notified through email or app notifications. Continued use of the platform after changes signifies your acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Contact Information

For questions or concerns:

Email: support@smartballot.com

Head Office: Toronto Canada