What is an On-line Poll?

Polling tools make it possible to gather the opinion of users on a given topic. Some software may ask users to identify themselves before voting. In such case, identifying information such as a user's E-mail address may be provided.

Characteristics

Access to Polls | Server Location |

Access to Polls

Some software requires users to identify themselves before voting. This usually means that an E-mail address or other identifying information is disclosed.

To prevent an individual using the same workstation from voting twice, some software stores information on the user, such as the computer's IP address. Each IP address is unique. NOTE: This situation does not exist in school boards.

Server Location

The server that hosts the polling software may not be under the responsibility of the same authority as the participants.

Some servers that offer such services are not under the responsibility of the school board and are often outside the country. In such case, the school board cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the information provided and cannot always ensure that its obligations will be assumed by the organization that hosts the server.

The school board must ensure that its obligations as regards the protection of personal information are transferred to the hosting organization.