Comparing Polling Day Management Software in the UK

A different approach to polling day management software

Not all polling day management solutions are built with the same assumptions. Some are designed around tightly controlled ecosystems or fixed commercial models. Others are built around flexibility — recognising how councils actually operate.

Below is a high-level comparison of these two approaches.

Polling day management approaches: a practical comparison

Area	More restrictive approaches	Authentic8 approach
Device compatibility	Often tied to specific devices or operating systems, sometimes requiring dedicated hardware purchases.	Works across laptops and mixed device estates, including non-Apple devices, allowing councils to use existing hardware.
Hardware costs	Additional costs may be incurred to meet device or platform requirements.	Reduces or removes the need for new hardware by fitting into existing council device estates.
IT support & remote access	Remote support can be limited by device type or platform constraints.	Easier remote support using standard council IT tools, enabling quicker issue resolution on polling day.
Hosting & infrastructure	Typically fixed hosting models with limited flexibility.	Flexible hosting options, including cloud or local server setups, depending on council requirements.
Security framework	Varies by provider and may not align with existing council security standards.	Built on Microsoft Azure and protected by Microsoft Front Door, aligning with public sector security expectations.
Polling station inspections	Often relies on manual processes or delayed reporting.	Digital polling station inspection tools with real-time data submission and tracking.
Live polling-day visibility	Limited real-time insight; updates may be fragmented or delayed.	Real-time visibility of polling stations, inspections and postal vote collections as activity happens.
Voter interaction features	Typically focused only on internal processes.	Dual-action QR codes supporting both voter information and polling station identification.
Commercial model	Annual licence fees regardless of election frequency.	Pay-when-used model, allowing councils to pay only when the system is required for an election.
Overall flexibility	Assumes councils adapt processes and infrastructure to the software.	Designed to adapt to existing council systems, processes and election cycles.

Polling day software: two approaches compared

Authentic8 Software from Democracy Counts

Hardware & device use

Some solutions assume a single-device or vendor-specific environment, often requiring dedicated hardware purchases or strict device controls.Authentic8 is designed to work across laptops and mixed device estates, including non-Apple hardware, allowing councils to use existing devices and reduce unnecessary spend.

IT support & remote access

In more restricted environments, remote support can be limited by device type or security constraints, making issue resolution slower on polling day.Authentic8 aligns more easily with standard council IT support tools, making remote troubleshooting and support simpler and faster when it matters most.

Security & infrastructure

Certain platforms take a one-size-fits-all approach to hosting and infrastructure.Authentic8 offers flexibility around cloud or local server hosting and is built on Microsoft Azure, protected by Microsoft Front Door — providing reassurance for councils with established security and governance requirements.

Polling day visibility

Some systems rely on delayed reporting or manual check-ins, which can limit real-time oversight.Authentic8 provides live visibility of polling station inspections, postal vote collections and polling-day activity as it happens, supporting quicker decisions and better coordination.

Feature design

Many tools focus solely on internal processes.Authentic8 combines operational tools with citizen-facing innovation, such as dual-action QR codes that support voter information while also assisting polling staff with register identification.

Commercial flexibility

Traditional models often require annual licences regardless of election frequency.Authentic8 uses a pay-when-needed approach, allowing councils to access the system for elections without ongoing costs during quieter periods.

Designed around reality, not restriction

The difference is not about adding more features to polling day management software — it’s about designing software that reflects:

• Existing council infrastructure

• Real polling-day pressures

• Budget and resource constraints

• The need for flexibility across election cycles

  
  

Authentic8 takes a practical, adaptable approach to polling day management — one that supports election teams without forcing change where it isn’t needed.

Athentic8 Polling Day Management Software UK