April 2026 Intersect Committee Elections - Follow up statement

Following the conclusion of the April 2026 Committee Elections, Intersect has continued its review and follow-up work relating to irregular voting patterns identified during post-election analysis.

As previously communicated, this review identified a concentrated pattern of coordinated voting activity connected to a group of recently created memberships and a small number of payment cards. These patterns were assessed alongside Intersect’s own internal review, which resulted in a set of memberships and votes that were subsequently suspended pending further review.

The identified voting patterns materially affected candidate rankings across multiple committees, making review and intervention necessary to preserve confidence in the integrity of the election outcome.

Actions were not taken on the basis of speculation or isolated observations. The patterns identified were subject to additional analysis and independently reviewed prior to decisions being made.

Our focus throughout this process has been to balance two important responsibilities:

• protecting the integrity and legitimacy of the election process; and
• ensuring any affected members are treated fairly and given an opportunity to respond individually.

Over the next days, affected members will receive information outlining the review and reinstatement process. This process includes an opportunity for members to provide additional information relating to account creation, participation intent, and identity verification. Reviews will be conducted individually and outcomes considered on a case-by-case basis.

At this stage, no additional action has been taken relating to elected candidates beyond the measures already communicated publicly. The measures implemented were specifically limited to protecting the integrity of the election process and should not be interpreted as a final determination regarding individual members or candidates. Questions relating to membership status, reinstatement, and any further governance considerations are being handled through individual review processes.

Intersect is also progressing a broader post-election review focused on strengthening future election processes. Areas currently under consideration include:

• clearer membership and verification requirements for election participation;
• robust participation pathways through working groups and committees;
• proactive monitoring and audit tooling; and
• broader process refinements informed by lessons learned during this election cycle.

Clarification on the basis for temporary suspensions

A number of public comments and social media posts have characterised Intersect’s actions as accusations of fraud or intentional wrongdoing against specific individuals. That is not the position, nor has Intersect communicated this publicly.

The temporary suspensions were applied as an administrative measure following the identification of highly coordinated voting patterns connected to a concentrated group of recently created memberships and to allow further review and verification to take place while protecting the integrity of the election process. 

The review considered a number of membership and election obligations, including:

• the principle of one member, one vote;
• requirements relating to fair participation in governance processes;
• restrictions relating to the transfer or assignment of memberships; and
• compliance with Intersect’s membership terms and Code of Conduct.

A significant number of the memberships involved either failed identity verification checks, encountered repeated KYC failures, or could not successfully complete the verification process.

Intersect has intentionally avoided publicly attributing intent, coordination motives, or misconduct to specific individuals. The purpose of the current reinstatement process is to ensure affected members have an opportunity to provide additional information and to have their circumstances considered individually.

The April 2026 elections represented the first committee elections conducted under the new two-year term structure, with 102 candidates standing across eight committees and nearly 4,000 ballots cast by members. While the review process has highlighted areas requiring improvement, it has also demonstrated the importance of having transparent oversight, independent auditing, and defined governance processes in place as participation in Cardano governance continues to mature.

As discussion around these events has continued publicly, Intersect is aware of a number of claims and interpretations circulating across community channels and social media including calls for immediate public disclosure of additional information, actions, or outcomes. We recognise that this process has been difficult and, at times, frustrating for members, candidates, and committees alike, and appreciate the patience and engagement shown by the community while this work continues.

Throughout this process, Intersect has sought to balance transparency with fairness, confidentiality, and procedural responsibility. This includes ensuring that communications are based on verified information and completed review steps, rather than speculation, assumptions, or partial information circulating publicly.

Intersect has also intentionally avoided making allegations of intent or misconduct against specific individuals while review processes remain ongoing. In some cases, public commentary has conflated temporary administrative actions with conclusions that Intersect itself has not communicated. Where appropriate, Intersect will continue to correct factual inaccuracies while avoiding speculation or commentary on individual member circumstances.

Affected members have been or will be contacted directly where appropriate, independent review has been undertaken, and governance bodies continue to be engaged as part of the ongoing process. Some aspects of the review necessarily involve legal, privacy, and procedural considerations, including individual member circumstances, and therefore cannot always be discussed publicly or in real time.

Intersect will continue to communicate material updates as processes conclude and decisions are finalised. Our intention is to ensure communications remain factual, considered, and fair to all parties involved. Further updates will be provided as appropriate once the review and postmortem processes conclude.