Esquerra Republicana political party membership vote with Vocdoni: 77.12% turnout in a decisive political decision

Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) is one of Catalonia’s main political parties and among the largest in Spain. In August 2024, the party faced a consequential decision with major implications for Catalan and Spanish governance.

Rather than decide internally, ERC chose to consult its membership using Vocdoni, an example of internal democracy at a moment of maximum political sensitivity.

For a decision of this magnitude, the voting process had to be secure, verifiable, and fast, while remaining accessible to thousands of members. Vocdoni delivered the digital voting infrastructure to make that possible.

A high‑stakes vote with clear results

• Voting window: August 2, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Total votes: 6,349
• Turnout: 77.12%
• Yes: 3,397 votes (53.5%)
• No: 2,847 votes (44.8%)
• Blank: 105 votes (1.7%)

The turnout was exceptionally high and the process ran without incidents. Results were available within seconds of the poll closing, enabling immediate visibility and public accountability.

Why this consultation matters

Political parties are under increasing pressure to demonstrate transparency and accountability. ERC’s choice to consult its members on a sensitive decision shows how internal democracy can scale when the process is trustworthy and easy to participate in.

It also reinforces a broader shift in political organizations toward member‑driven decision‑making, where legitimacy depends not only on outcomes but on how those outcomes are reached.

Why Vocdoni was the right choice for a political party vote

Vocdoni is designed for all type of votes, but is specially useful for high‑stakes voting, where trust, auditability, and speed are non‑negotiable. Its end‑to‑end verifiability enables open auditing of results, while the tally is computed in seconds, delivering immediate results without compromising guarantees.

Vocdoni’s next‑generation voting technology provides strong security at lower cost than centralized, proprietary alternatives. That makes it a practical option for political parties, unions, and member‑based organizations that require high‑level assurances without high budgets.

What this success story demonstrates

This consultation shows that large‑scale political party voting can be secure, verifiable, and efficient without sacrificing participation. It is a strong example of how digital voting can support internal democracy and high‑trust decision‑making.

For organizations that manage sensitive decisions, the ERC consultation highlights the benefits of combining secure online voting, fast results, and auditable processes in a single, reliable system.