Question 1

How do I create a group?

Accepted Answer

Open the MeshVote app, sign in, and tap the "+" button to create a new group. You can set a name, icon, and location for your group. Once created, share the QR code invite with participants so they can scan it to join.

Question 2

How does Bluetooth Sync work?

Accepted Answer

Bluetooth Sync uses Bluetooth Low Energy to create a peer-to-peer mesh network between nearby devices. Votes and poll data propagate through the mesh via a gossip protocol — each device relays messages to its neighbors, who relay to their neighbors, and so on. No internet connection is required. The mesh works best when devices are within Bluetooth range of each other (typically 10-30 meters indoors).

Question 3

Why do votes use cryptographic signatures?

Accepted Answer

Every vote in MeshVote is signed with an Ed25519 cryptographic key unique to your device. This ensures that votes cannot be forged or tampered with as they propagate through the mesh network, providing verifiable integrity without a central server.

Question 4

What platforms does MeshVote support?

Accepted Answer

MeshVote is available on iOS, Android, and macOS. The web admin dashboard is available at meshvote.com for group and user management.

Question 5

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

You can delete your account from the Profile screen in the app, or visit the Account Deletion page at meshvote.com/delete-account for more information. Account deletion is permanent and removes your profile data from our servers.

Question 6

Can someone vote twice?

Accepted Answer

No. The system enforces one vote per device per poll. If a member taps a different option, their previous vote is replaced — not duplicated. This rule is enforced by every device in the mesh, not just the one casting the vote.

Question 7

What if someone's phone dies mid-vote?

Accepted Answer

Any votes they cast before the phone died have already been relayed to other devices in the room. Those votes are counted normally. The member simply will not be able to vote on subsequent polls unless their phone is restored.

Question 8

Can votes be changed or deleted after a poll closes?

Accepted Answer

No. Every vote is cryptographically signed with a timestamp. Once a poll is closed, the final tally is sealed and distributed. Votes that arrive with timestamps after the close are automatically rejected. The result cannot be retroactively altered.

Question 9

Does this work in a large venue?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MeshVote is designed for assemblies of thousands. In a large venue, the phones of members seated throughout the space act as relays, extending coverage automatically. More people actually means better coverage — the mesh strengthens as it grows.

Question 10

Is our voting data stored in the cloud?

Accepted Answer

By default, every group runs Network Sync — votes propagate over both Bluetooth and encrypted cloud storage in parallel, so members joining mid-session catch up instantly. Events are end-to-end encrypted with your group's invite key, which is never sent to our servers, and voter identities are hashed before storage. Admins who'd rather stay fully offline can create groups with Network Sync off — those groups run pure BLE and nothing leaves the room.

Question 11

What if the administrator's phone dies?

Accepted Answer

Votes that have already been cast continue to propagate normally. Polls can be opened and closed from any admin device, and any online admin can approve join requests — so groups with more than one admin keep running without interruption. We recommend adding a second admin: share an admin invite, and an existing member who scans it is promoted in place. If your group has a single administrator, it is wise to ensure their phone is fully charged and, if possible, plugged in during the session.

Question 12

Do members need to create accounts?

Accepted Answer

No. Members simply install the app and scan the QR code to join. No email address, login, or personal information is required to participate in voting.

Question 13

Can this be used alongside existing procedures?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. MeshVote is designed to complement your rules of order, not replace them. The chair still recognizes motions, the administrator still manages the process, and the body still follows its established procedures. MeshVote simply replaces the mechanics of counting hands or paper ballots with a faster, more accurate method.

Question 14

Is there a way to communicate during the session?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MeshVote includes a built-in group chat that travels over the same Bluetooth mesh as votes. Messages are ephemeral — they are not stored on any server and exist only on the devices present in the room. Administrator messages are marked with a badge so members can identify official communications.

Question 15

Does MeshVote send push notifications?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every group notifies you, in one of two ways. Groups with Network Sync enabled receive push notifications when a new poll opens or a new chat message arrives, even when the app is closed; notifications are encrypted end-to-end with your group's invite key — our servers can't read the plaintext. Groups running only Bluetooth Sync never reach our servers, so instead the app shows a notification banner on your device the moment a new poll or message arrives over Bluetooth. You can mute any group from its settings, and you're never notified twice for the same event.

Question 16

How do I make someone an admin?

Accepted Answer

Share an admin invite from the group's invite screen. If the person isn't in the group yet, scanning it joins them as an admin. If they're already a member, scanning the same QR shows a promotion prompt — they confirm and are promoted in place, no need to leave and rejoin. Every admin can open and close polls, approve join requests, and edit group settings.

Question 17

What can admins see about members?

Accepted Answer

In groups with Network Sync, admins get a Members tab: a roster grouped into admins, registered members, and anonymous devices, showing each device's platform and model, an optional avatar, and a search box. Polls also show live turnout — the share of active member devices that have cast a vote. Turnout is an aggregate: the roster doesn't reveal individual ballots, and voter identities are hashed in cloud storage so they can't be enumerated there.

Question 18

What is geofencing?

Accepted Answer

Geofencing is an optional feature that restricts voting to members within a geographic boundary. The administrator draws a polygon on an interactive map to define the boundary. At voting time, the app checks the member's location — if they are outside the boundary, their vote is not accepted. This is useful for assemblies that require physical presence.

Question 19

Can members abstain from a vote?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When creating a poll, the administrator can enable an abstain option. Members who wish to abstain can select it just like any other choice. Abstentions are counted and displayed in the final tally.

Question 20

Can poll results be exported?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Results can be exported to plaintext, CSV, JSON, or Excel format. This is useful for meeting minutes, official records, and external audits.