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Portuguese Bar Association: a secure, transparent, and accessible electronic voting system

A leading institution in ethics and professional representation

The Portuguese Bar Association has taken another step forward in modernising its democratic processes by implementing electronic voting in its national elections. In partnership with Minsait, and through the Onesait Elections Democracy Online (ODEO) platform, the electoral process took place securely, transparently, and accessibly, enabling all lawyers to participate simply and confidently.

The Portuguese Bar Association is a public professional institution representing more than 23,000 lawyers in Portugal. Its core mission is to regulate the practice of law, uphold professional ethics, and safeguard the values of the democratic rule of law. With a nationwide presence through seven Regional Councils and seven Councils of Professional Ethics, the institution faces the challenge of coordinating complex processes and ensuring equitable participation for all its members.

This initiative strengthens the Bar Association’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and efficiency, ushering in a new era of digital participation and modern governance

Modernising participation: the challenge of secure and accessible elections

The Bar Association sought to fully digitalise its electoral process while ensuring trust, security, and accessibility. The main objectives were:

  • Ensuring transparency and traceability of the vote
  • Facilitating participation for all members, regardless of their location
  • Reducing the costs and time associated with traditional electoral logistics
  • Meeting the highest standards of information security and confidentiality

A comprehensive technological response for efficient democratic participation

Minsait provided the Portuguese Bar Association with a complete technological solution through the Onesait Elections Democracy Online (ODEO) platform — an innovative system that enabled fully digital management of the entire electoral process, from voter identification to the counting and validation of results.

The system was applied to the election of all national and regional bodies of the Portuguese Bar Association, namely:

  • President (Bastonário) and General Council
  • Higher Council
  • Fiscal Council
  • Regional Councils (Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Évora, Madeira, Azores, and Faro)
  • Professional Ethics Councils in the same seven regions
  • Board and Fiscal Council of the Lawyers’ and Solicitors’ Pension Fund (CPAS)

To ensure maximum reliability and support throughout the process, local technical assistance points were also established in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Évora, Madeira, Azores, and Faro, providing proximity, guidance, and confidence at every stage of the electoral act.

Tangible results, real impact

The project marked a turning point in how the Portuguese Bar Association conducts its electoral processes, establishing a new model of digital voting with concrete and measurable results:

  • More than 23,000 lawyers cast their votes electronically, simply and securely
  • Centralised and transparent management of the entire electoral process
  • Significant reduction in the time required to count and validate results
  • Greater accessibility and participation, reaching lawyers across mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions
  • Strengthened institutional trust, supported by an audited, reliable, and technologically robust system

This project demonstrates Minsait’s vision and capability in driving the digitalisation of critical processes in the public and corporate sectors, meeting the highest standards of security, integrity, and transparency. The Onesait Elections Democracy Online (ODEO) platform has established itself as a benchmark in digital democracy, positioning the Portuguese Bar Association as a pioneer in the adoption of electronic voting systems in Portugal, a decisive step towards more modern, accessible, and trustworthy democratic participation.

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    Portugal Bar Association Project | Minsait