@MidnightLightning the tutorials on ethereum.org are based on using EthereumWallet hence my (first) attempt going down that route. I will try the other solutions you suggest.
@phalexo: my OS is Windows 7.
Jumping the subject a bit, what are the current encryption capabilities within smart contracts? I.e. could a voter send a token containing an encrypted envelope with a vote/choice that only the contract can open, so that 1) the voter can only vote once and there is a record that the voter has voted, as a transaction 2) all the votes are unencrypted only when the tallying occurs and individual votes cannot be reconnected with the voter.
Also, I'm guessing the previous question might be more appropriate in another ethereum-related room? "research" perhaps?