The DIGICON Award is a prestigious recognition of innovative companies pushing the boundaries of technology and business. To ensure a fair, transparent, and engaging voting experience, we developed a dedicated platform to streamline the voting process. By leveraging modern web technologies, the DIGICON Award Voting project eliminates manual inefficiencies and provides a seamless experience for both participants and administrators.
Motivation
Traditionally, the DIGICON Award relied on an in-person voting system. Each attendee received three physical coins upon entry, which they could distribute among their preferred companies by placing them in designated piggy banks at each booth. While this system was engaging and interactive, it had its limitations, including logistical challenges, time constraints, and the inability to scale efficiently.
To modernize this process, we created an online voting platform that mirrors the traditional system while enhancing its accessibility, security, and transparency. By transitioning to a digital format, participants can now cast their votes effortlessly using a user-friendly interface, and organizers benefit from an automated, real-time tallying system.
Features
The application consists of three parts, the voting system itself, a proxy to limit brute-force attempts and a admin panel to set up and manage the voting procedure.
Voting System
- Three Votes Per Participant: Each participant is granted three votes, allowing them to distribute their support across multiple companies or allocate all votes to a single favorite.
- Voting Code Authentication: Each voter receives a unique voting code to prevent duplicate votes and ensure a fair process.
- Real-Time Countdown: A countdown timer keeps participants informed about the remaining voting time, creating a sense of urgency and engagement.
- Results Display: Once the voting period concludes, the results are immediately available, showcasing the companies and their respective vote counts in a transparent manner.
Admin Panel
- General Settings: Admins can configure voting start and end times, ensuring precise control over the voting window.
- Company Management: New companies can be added, existing ones can be edited or removed, and a search function helps admins quickly locate participants.
- Code Management: Admins can generate, reset, and remove voting codes as needed, maintaining the integrity of the process.
- Vote Management: If required, admins have the ability to delete all votes, providing flexibility for unforeseen circumstances or test runs.
Technologies
Building a reliable and scalable platform requires a strong technological foundation. The DIGICON Award Voting project leverages modern frameworks and tools to ensure optimal performance.
Frontend
- Next.js: This React framework enables server-side rendering and static site generation, improving performance and user experience.
- React: The interactive user interface is powered by React, ensuring a dynamic and smooth voting experience.
- Material-UI: A well-structured design system with Material-UI provides a modern and visually appealing interface.
- SWR: Efficient data fetching, caching, and revalidation are handled using SWR, reducing unnecessary API calls and improving responsiveness.
Backend
- Prisma: A robust ORM that simplifies database interactions and maintains data integrity.
- SQLite: A lightweight and efficient database solution suitable for the project's requirements.
- Next.js API Routes: The backend logic is seamlessly integrated using Next.js API routes, ensuring smooth communication between the frontend and backend.
DevOps
- Docker: The application is containerized with Docker, ensuring consistency across development and deployment environments.
- GitLab CI/CD: Automated CI/CD pipelines streamline the build and deployment process, enabling quick iterations and updates.
The transition from physical coin-based voting to a digital platform represents a significant improvement in efficiency, security, and scalability. By embracing modern technology, the DIGICON Award can continue to provide an engaging and transparent voting experience while eliminating the limitations of traditional methods.