A digital platform for the Indian citizens to cast and verify their vote online.

ROLEProduct Designer
TIMELINEJan - Feb 2024
DELIVERABLES0 to 1 product design

Voting at your fingerprints

User can literally cast there vote under10clicks

That was what I thought before actually designing this app.

But eventually during my research and one-to-one interview with all the representatives who showed their interest for this product, I came to know that it won't be possible. So that's why I had to change some things.

Although the main issue was eventually fixed with the help of some key important KPIs that I got from the user research.

I'm thankful that I did the user research to know the actual pain points rather than designing this product taking me as the ideal user base.

About

Vote IN is a democracy app that simplifies access to the voting process.

Citizens can register, verify their status, and cast their votes instantly, all in one simple, user-friendly platform. (a brief intro)

Fraud Concerns
Fraudulent actions reduced by huge margin
Long Queues
Verifying individual votes got easier.
Fraud Concerns
Fraudulent actions reduced by huge margin
Problem Statement.
A secure, seamless voting platform for identity verification & transparent voting, protected against fraud, duplicate votes.
The Government of India is transitioning from traditional offline voting to a centralized online voting system.
This system will enable citizens to cast their votes digitally, eliminating the need for physical polling stations.

Breaking problem statement.

I usually try to break the problem statement into small blocks, then eventually pick the ones which actually align with the main goal, which is giving the Indian citizens a platform to cast there vote in online.

So, I stood with three problem buckets.

Verification Complexity
Users used to struggle with identity verification steps, especially if they involve multiple documents.
Trust in Digital Systems
Users feel apprehensive about the security and transparency of the online voting process.
Fraud Concerns
Users may worry about the possibility of their identity being misused for duplicate voting or other fraudulent activities.

Verification Complexity

Simplifying the Verification Process

1. Lack of Visibility

Users had limited visibility into where they were in the verification process, making the journey feel uncertain and disconnected.

For the new verification flow, we improved clarity by:

• Introducing a progress bar to show users where they are in the process

• Adding real-time notifications to keep users informed of verification updates

• Using a prominent CTA to create a familiar, form-like experience and guide users

Login Page
Progress bar to let the user know where are they in the verification process
Notification section to give feeadback to the user

2. Time-Consuming Verification

Users previously had to wait while their documents were manually verified, making the process unnecessarily slow.

We streamlined verification by:

• Requiring users to enter only their phone number

• Automatically retrieving required documents from DigiLocker

• Eliminating unnecessary manual document uploads and verification steps

The notification section gives the user a feedback that there informations are fetched properly.
Users can refetch there data if there is some issue in the server or so some data is incorrect.
Digilocker Integration

3. Uncertainty During Document Retrieval

Fetching documents from DigiLocker can take some time, leaving users unsure whether the process is still running.

To keep users informed, we introduced:

• A real-time notification section showing the current retrieval status

• Clear updates while documents are being fetched from DigiLocker

• A Refetch Data option if the information is not retrieved successfully

I used a notification section to provide real-time updates while documents are being fetched from DigiLocker. Since the retrieval process can take some time, these updates keep users informed about the verification status and reduce uncertainty or the need to wait without feedback.
Retriving Documents

Fraud Concerns

Ensuring Trust and Preventing Fraud

1. Vote Confirmation

Once the user successfully casts their vote, the system generates a unique voting ID as a digital proof of submission. This gives users a clear confirmation that their vote has been successfully recorded without requiring them to rely solely on the confirmation screen.

The flow was designed to:

• Generate a unique ID immediately after voting

• Clearly communicate that the vote has been recorded

• Give users a reference they can save for later verification

• Create a clear separation between casting the vote and verifying the vote

A clear progress bar helps users understand where they are in the verification process, while real-time notifications keep them informed of important updates. A prominent CTA guides users through each step, creating a familiar, form-like experience that feels clear and intuitive.

2. Independent Vote Verification

After receiving their unique ID, users can return to the verification section and enter the ID to independently confirm their vote. The system checks the ID against the recorded voting data and shows the party associated with that vote, allowing users to validate that their vote was recorded as intended.

This helps to:

• Let users verify their vote independently

• Confirm that their unique ID is valid

• Show the party linked to the recorded vote

• Increase transparency and trust in the voting process

Users no longer need to wait for manual document verification. They simply enter their phone number, and the required documents are securely retrieved from DigiLocker, making the verification process faster and more seamless.

3. Uncertainty During Document Retrieval

Fetching documents from DigiLocker can take some time, leaving users unsure whether the process is still running.

To keep users informed, we introduced:

• A real-time notification section showing the current retrieval status

• Clear updates while documents are being fetched from DigiLocker

• A Refetch Data option if the information is not retrieved successfully

I used a notification section to provide real-time updates while documents are being fetched from DigiLocker. Since the retrieval process can take some time, these updates keep users informed about the verification status and reduce uncertainty or the need to wait without feedback.
Retriving Documents

Trust in DigitalSystems

Ensuring Trust and Preventing Fraud

1. Familiarity Through Physical Interaction

For a digital voting experience, one of the biggest challenges was making the interaction feel as trustworthy and tangible as the physical voting process. Instead of designing a conventional candidate-selection list, I intentionally took visual and interaction cues from the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) used in physical elections.

The goal was to make the digital interaction feel familiar, so users immediately understand who they are selecting, where they need to tap, and when their choice has been registered.

Building Trust Through Familiarity :

I designed the candidate-selection interface to resemble the structure of a physical voting machine:

Familiar Layout
Candidate information and party symbols are presented in a structured row, similar to how they appear on an EVM.
Clear Choices
The large selection control on the right creates the feeling of physically pressing a voting button.
Physical Press
Clear separation between candidates prevents accidental selection and makes each choice easy to distinguish.
Visual Cues
Familiar party symbols provide an additional visual cue, helping users identify their preferred representative quickly.
Safe Selection
The minimal interface removes unnecessary actions and keeps the user's focus on the single decision that matters: selecting a candidate.
The interaction was designed around the mental model of “pressing a button to vote.” Rather than using a conventional checkbox or radio button, the large control gives the user a more deliberate tap target.

2. Why This Interaction Matters

I translated the familiarity of a physical EVM into the digital experience, making the interaction feel recognizable, intentional, and trustworthy while keeping candidate selection simple and clear.

So, I stood with three main reasons.

Builds trust
through familiarity
Mirroring the physical EVM makes the digital voting process feel recognizable and credible.
Creates a sense
of intent
A large, button-like interaction makes selecting a candidate feel deliberate, similar to physically pressing a voting button.
Reduces selection
errors
Clear candidate rows, party symbols, and distinct touch targets help users quickly identify and confidently select their representative.

The Overall Impact

Outcomes & Civic Adoption

By decoupling voting from physical boundaries and introducing real-time independent verification, Vote IN transformed the digital election experience into a transparent, dependable civic platform.

Improved Accessibility
Improved accessibility and ease-of-use in the voting process.
Increased User Confidence
Increased user confidence through transparent and secure interactions.
Enhanced User Engagement
Enhanced user engagement by making digital voting trustworthy and intuitive.
Civic Duty Adoption
Fostered a greater willingness to adopt online voting for civic duties.

My Learning from this Case Study

Reflection & Design Principles
Designing for democracy requires balancing effortless usability with perceptible, undeniable security. Trust is not assumed—it must be intentionally designed at every touchpoint.
Simplifying Complexity
Simplifying complex processes like verification and voting is crucial for user satisfaction.
Familiar Mental Models
Breaking down steps and using familiar patterns helps users navigate confidently.
Building Systemic Trust
Addressing security and transparency concerns builds trust in digital systems.
Empathy-Driven Insights
Insights from user surveys guided the design to meet both functional and emotional needs.

UI Mockups