1. Introduction
At Pawavotes, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our voting platform and services.
By using Pawavotes, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We collect information that you provide directly to us, including:
- Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
- Organisation details (for event organisers)
- Payment information (processed securely through Paystack)
- Profile information and photos (for nominees)
- Voter credentials and authentication data
2.2 Automatically Collected Information
When you access our Service, we automatically collect:
- Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
- Usage data (pages visited, time spent, features used)
- Location data (approximate location based on IP address)
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
2.3 Voting Information
We collect information related to your voting activities:
- Votes cast and voting preferences
- Voting timestamps and patterns
- Transaction records for paid votes
- Nomination submissions and supporting materials
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To provide, maintain, and improve our voting services
- To process votes and ensure voting integrity
- To process payments and prevent fraud
- To send you notifications about voting events and results
- To communicate with you about your account and our services
- To analyse usage patterns and optimise user experience
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
- To detect and prevent security threats and fraudulent activities
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your information in the following circumstances:
4.1 With Event Organisers
We share voting data and analytics with event organisers to help them manage their events and understand voting patterns. This may include aggregate voting statistics and voter demographics.
4.2 With Service Providers
We work with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:
- Payment processors (Paystack) for secure payment processing
- SMS providers for sending voter credentials and notifications
- Cloud hosting providers for data storage and processing
- Analytics providers to understand service usage
4.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:
- Legal processes or government requests
- Enforcement of our Terms of Service
- Protection of our rights, property, or safety
- Investigation of fraud or security issues
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Secure authentication and access controls
- Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Employee training on data protection practices
- Incident response procedures for data breaches
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our services and fulfil the purposes described in this policy
- Comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes
- Maintain voting records for audit and verification purposes
- Enforce our agreements and protect our legal rights
Voting records are typically retained for a minimum of 5 years to ensure transparency and accountability. You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and operational requirements.
7. Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
- Objection: Object to processing of your information for certain purposes
- Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service provider
- Withdrawal: Withdraw consent for data processing where consent was given
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this policy.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Authenticate your identity and maintain sessions
- Analyse usage patterns and improve our services
- Provide personalised content and recommendations
You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our Service.
9. Third-Party Links
Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
10. Children's Privacy
Our Service is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete such information.
11. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Ghana. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically for any changes.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Your privacy matters. We are committed to protecting your data responsibly. If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.