staffmanager/app/Http/Controllers/VoteController.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use App\Application;
use App\Http\Requests\VoteRequest;
use App\Jobs\ProcessVoteList;
use App\Vote;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;

class VoteController extends Controller
{

    public function vote(VoteRequest $voteRequest, Application $application)
    {
        $this->authorize('create', Vote::class);

        $vote = Vote::create([
            'userID' => Auth::user()->id,
            'allowedVoteType' => $voteRequest->voteType,
        ]);
        $vote->application()->attach($application->id);


        Log::info('User ' . Auth::user()->name . ' has voted in applicant ' . $application->user->name . '\'s application', [
            'voteType' => $voteRequest->voteType
        ]);
        $voteRequest->session()->flash('success', 'Your vote has been registered!');

        // Cron job will run command that processes votes
        return redirect()->back();
    }
}