Terms of Service

AscendVote is an online platform operated by Ascend Technologies that organisations can use to configure elections, manage eligible voters, collect ballots and view results. These terms apply to the website, application and related services. An organisation may also have a separate agreement with Ascend Technologies; if that agreement conflicts with these terms, it governs for that organisation to the extent of the conflict.

When creating or administering an election, the organisation is responsible for:

• having authority to run the election and to collect, use and upload voter information;
• setting eligibility, voting periods, ballot questions, candidate information and election rules accurately;
• notifying voters about the election, its rules and the organisation's handling of their information;
• providing voter credentials securely and only to the intended eligible voter;
• limiting administrator access to authorised people and promptly removing access that is no longer needed;
• reviewing results, resolving election disputes and retaining records required by its own rules or law.

AscendVote supplies the technical service; it does not determine an organisation's electorate, certify that an election is lawful or independently verify the accuracy of the organisation's configuration.

Voters may use only credentials assigned to them, must keep their PIN and sign-in details private, and must follow the election rules provided by the organisation. Do not impersonate another voter, attempt to vote more than once, or use another person's account or credentials. Contact the organisation promptly if your credentials are lost, exposed or appear to have been used by someone else.

You must not:

• access an account, election, voter list, ballot or result without permission;
• probe, disrupt, overload or interfere with the service, its security controls or another user's access;
• upload malware, unlawful content or information you do not have permission to use;
• scrape, reverse engineer or bypass service restrictions, except where applicable law does not allow that restriction; or
• use AscendVote to conduct an unlawful, deceptive or fraudulent activity.

Results are calculated from ballots accepted by the application. They depend on the election configuration, voter eligibility data, correct use of credentials, network availability and the integrity of the devices used by voters. AscendVote is not an independent election auditor and does not guarantee that an election satisfies an organisation's governing documents or applicable law.

Organisations are responsible for election challenges and for deciding how to address an interruption, suspected compromise, incorrect voter list or disputed result. Contact Ascend Technologies promptly about a suspected service security incident; preserve relevant records and do not alter an election while an issue is being investigated.

We work to keep AscendVote available, but do not promise uninterrupted, error-free or continuous operation. Maintenance, provider outages, connectivity problems, security events or other circumstances may interrupt the service. We may change or discontinue features and may restrict or suspend access where reasonably necessary to protect the service, users or an election, or to comply with law. Where practical, we will provide notice and work with the organisation on election continuity.

The Privacy Policy describes the information processed by the service and its retention behavior. Organisations remain responsible for their voter data and election instructions. You must not upload personal information unless it is necessary for the election and you have authority to provide it.

Ascend Technologies and its licensors retain rights in AscendVote, its software, design and service materials. Organisations retain responsibility for content they submit, including member lists, logos and candidate information, and must have the rights and permissions needed to use it. You grant Ascend Technologies permission to host and process that content only as needed to provide, secure and support the service and as otherwise permitted by law.

An organisation may stop using the service and request account or data deletion by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate access for a breach of these terms, a security risk, non-payment under a separate agreement, or a legal requirement. Ending access does not automatically erase ballots, participation, results, audit records or information that must be kept for election integrity, security or legal reasons. The Privacy Policy explains the platform's retention behavior.

To the extent permitted by law, AscendVote is provided on an “as available” basis, without a promise that it will be uninterrupted or suitable for every election or legal requirement. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits a right, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited. To the extent permitted by law, Ascend Technologies is not responsible for an organisation's election rules, voter list, credential distribution, decisions or disputes, or for interruptions outside its reasonable control.

These terms are governed by the laws of Ghana, subject to any mandatory protections or jurisdictional rules that apply to you. We may update these terms as the service or law changes. The effective date above will change when an update is published. Continued use after the update takes effect means you accept the revised terms, to the extent permitted by law.

Questions or service concerns can be sent to Ascend Technologies at support@ascendtechgh.com.