Published on 4th October 2023

Introduction

The NEAR Digital Collective (NDC) inaugural elections in September 2023 were a cornerstone event in the journey toward further decentralization of NEAR Protocol, and have finally enabled a direct participation and governance mechanism for the NEAR community. They are undoubtedly an historic moment not only for the NEAR ecosystem but also Web3.

The Election Integrity Council (EIC) was established to preserve the integrity and transparency of the election process and to ensure that the electoral process adhered to the principles of fairness and transparency. The EIC is responsible for the enforcement of the NDC Fair Voting Policy (FVP), to prevent and investigate electoral fraud and take action when breaches of the FVP are detected.

The EIC’s report is the result of its work, and it outlines the operational framework, methodologies, and findings of the EIC during and after the election period. It is structured as follows:

1. The mandate and scope of the EIC, emphasizing its responsibilities and actions undertaken.
2. The methodologies employed by the EIC, which include voter verification processes, fingerprint analysis, and the utilization of the Pikes Peak On-Chain Data Analytics Platform.
3. A summary of findings based on whistleblower reports, evidence provided, and the EIC's proactive initiatives to identify Irregular patterns and investigate potential breaches.
4. Actions taken by the EIC, including the outcomes of investigations, votes nullified, and candidates disqualified, among others.
5. Core documents and resources that have been instrumental in guiding the EIC's actions and decisions.

By presenting this report, the EIC aims to offer a transparent and comprehensive overview of its findings during the NDC elections in September 2023, reaffirming its commitment to upholding the highest standards of electoral integrity.

The EIC

The EIC is an independent entity established to ensure the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the NDC elections in September 2023. Its primary mandate revolved around:

• Enabling community members to vote by offering alternative verification option for users in the black and grey lists.
• Investigating all whistleblower reports and recommending actions.
• Promoting the transparency, accountability, and integrity of the electoral process.

Once the EIC concludes its present work, its mandate will be terminated and the responsibility of upholding the Fair Voting Policy will pass to the Transparency Commission.

Work Carried Out

During the election period, the EIC undertook the following tasks:

1. Case Reviews: Rigorous examination of all whistleblower reports and other cases of potential FVP violations.