Development of the SAISE IT Subsystem "Electronic Subscription Lists"

The State Automated Information System of Elections (SAISE) is a national platform used by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Moldova to ensure transparency, integrity, and efficiency of electoral processes. One critical component of this system is the Electronic Subscription Lists subsystem, aimed at digitalizing the collection and verification of voter signatures for candidate registration.

Objective

To develop a secure, user-friendly, and legally compliant electronic subsystem that enables:

Collection of voter signatures in support of independent candidates or political parties.
Real-time validation of voter data against the State Voter Registry.
Full traceability and auditability of signature collection to prevent fraud or duplication.

Scope and Features

1. Digital Signature Collection

Citizens use M-Pass authentication to access the system.
Ability to sign support for a candidate/political party digitally.
Only eligible voters can sign once per candidate.

2. Real-Time Verification

Immediate validation of voter identity and eligibility via integration with:
- State Register of Voters
- State Population Register

3. Role-Based Access

Different access levels for:
Electoral officials
Party/candidate representatives
Observers (read-only access to stats)
Full logging of access and actions for audit purposes.

4. Security and Compliance

End-to-end encryption of user data and signatures.
System designed in compliance with Moldova’s electoral code, personal data protection law, and cybersecurity standards.
Use of national digital infrastructure: MCloud, MSign, MPass.

5. User Interface

Responsive web interface for both desktop and mobile.
Admin dashboard with analytics (number of collected signatures, invalid attempts, regional distribution).

6. Notification and Monitoring Tools

Real-time monitoring tools for electoral authorities.
Automatic alerts for anomalies (e.g., signature spikes, repeated access from same IP).

Technology Stack

Frontend: React.js

Backend: .NET Core

Database: PostgreSQL with audit trail features

Authentication: MPass

Hosting: MCloud

APIs: RESTful APIs for registry integrations

Implementation Timeline

Phase

Requirements Analysis

Prototype & UI Design

Development

Integration

Testing & QA

Training & Deployment

Timeline

2 weeks

3 weeks

2 months

3 weeks

2 weeks

Deliverables

Functional & technical specs

UX wireframes, user journeys

MVP with core signature collection

Connection to national registries

Security, functional, and load tests

Training sessions, user guides

Challenges & Mitigations

Challenge

Legal framework adaptation

Voter digital literacy

System abuse/fraud

Solution

Close collaboration with CEC and legal experts to ensure compliance

Developed simplified interface and awareness materials

Multi-layer validation and anomaly detection tools

Results

Over 95% reduction in paper signature handling.
Real-time data available for candidates and electoral commissions.
Significant cost savings in validation and logistics.
Strengthened trust in electoral transparency.

Conclusion

The "Electronic Subscription Lists" subsystem of SAISE is a landmark in e-governance and digital democracy in Moldova, enabling secure, accessible, and verifiable electoral participation. It serves as a model for other countries aiming to modernize candidate nomination and citizen engagement processes.