Vote Overview

The Vote phase is the legitimacy engine of Freeze–Vote–Rebuild.

Its purpose is to convert a stabilized, monitored Freeze into a politically credible outcome through a supervised decision process that is designed to resist coercion and manipulation.

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Table of Contents

Foundations of Legitimacy

• Objective & Legitimacy Criteria Defining what makes a result valid and internationally recognizable.
• Electorate Definition Ensuring displaced persons and refugees are explicitly included.

Operational Mechanics

• Voting System Design The technical architecture for hybrid, secure, and secret voting.
• Integrity & Observation Anti-coercion safeguards, independent monitoring, and audit trails.

Process & Outcomes

• Dispute Resolution Timelines and remedies for complaints, preventing indefinite contestation.
• Vote-to-Border Mechanics (Optional) A pre-published algorithm for mapping results to lines (if applicable).

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Objectives

• Produce a Legitimate Outcome: Results must meet agreed international standards of fairness.
• Ensure Meaningful Participation: Explicit inclusion of displaced persons and refugees is a core requirement.
• Make the Process Auditable: Rules, observation, and dispute resolution must be transparent.
• Reduce Incentives for Violence: Create a credible non-military route to political outcomes.

What “Vote” Means Here

“Vote” is shorthand for a legitimacy event that can take multiple forms (referendum, supervised elections, multi-option plebiscite), provided it meets the framework’s integrity requirements:

• Clear electorate definition.
• Safe participation and anti-coercion protections.
• Transparent procedures and audit trails.
• Independent observation.
• A dispute mechanism with binding timelines.

Minimum Viable Vote Package

A Vote phase is not credible without:

• An agreed Rulebook (eligibility, modalities, auditing, disputes).
• An identity/eligibility approach that includes displaced persons.
• An observation mission with freedom of movement and reporting ability.
• Version-Locked Procedures: No rule changes allowed midstream.
• A credible adjudication path for disputes and recounts.

Entry & Exit Logic

Entry (Readiness)

Preconditions to start the Vote phase:

• Freeze stability gate passed (hostilities reduced and monitored).
• Voter safety and observer deployment feasible.
• Rulebook published and locked.
• Dispute mechanism staffed and operational.

Exit Gate (Transition to Rebuild)

What must be verified to proceed to Phase 3:

• Observers certify process integrity to agreed standards.
• Disputes are adjudicated and final results published.
• Acceptance criteria met (e.g., turnout thresholds, audit checks).