Unlocking the Potential of Blockchain

- Online Voting

Nishika Patil Anil James Samiksha Pate

Electronics And Telecommunications Electronics And Telecommunications Electronics And Telecommunications
JSPM’s Rajarshi Shahu College of JSPM’s Rajarshi Shahu College of JSPM’s Rajarshi Shahu College of
Engineering Engineering Engineering
Pune, India Pune, India Pune, India
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Prof. Shilpa Sonawane

Electronics And Telecommunications
JSPM’s Rajarshi Shahu College of
Engineering
Pune, India
[email protected]

Abstract— India is recognized as one of the largest voting is frequently used due to its adaptability, ease of use,
democracies in the world, where the notion of a government and low cost compared to conventional elections. Although,
"of the people, by the people, and for the people" can only be the essential fairness, anonymity, confidentiality, and
upheld if the entire population participates in the electoral openness of the voting process are limited by the risk of
process. In India, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are the manipulation by the central authority responsible to maintain
traditional method of conducting elections through electronic the data generated in the voting procedure[2]. Most
voting. However, despite being designed to combat the problem procedures are now centralized and measured, managed, and
of booth-capturing in Indian elections, EVMs have only monitored by the critical authority in an electronic voting
worsened the situation. This paper proposes the use of
system, which is a problem for transparent voting.
blockchain technology to address the security challenges and
system requirements of digital e-voting systems. By leveraging This evaluates the requirement for a remedy to safeguard
blockchain's decentralized nature, our solution offers several citizens' democratic rights. To ensure a fair election and
advantages over other solutions, making it suitable for lessen unfairness, blockchain technology can be included in
implementation in any organization or country. We also the voting process. In order to establish a trustworthy
examine the security of our proposed voting method, working connection between voters and election officials,
demonstrating that our protocol is more secure than other this article introduces a platform based on cutting-edge
alternatives.
blockchain technology. Without using any actual polling
Keywords—E-voting, blockchain, Ethereum, smart contracts,
places, the proposed technology offers a framework that may
solidity. be used to conduct voting activity digitally through
blockchain. The blockchain is a newly developed,
decentralized, and distributed technology with solid
I. INTRODUCTION cryptographic underpinnings that has the potential to enhance
Democracy has made voting incredibly important in any numerous businesses in various ways[3]. Integrating
nation due to a general skepticism of the traditional voting blockchain technology might provide a solution to the
process. People have witnessed violations of their present challenges of electronic voting. Some latest
fundamental rights. Lack of transparency has led to applications that have been developed recently are as
challenges for other digital voting systems. The majority of follows:
the voting methods are not sufficiently transparent, which Follow My Vote – The company has developed a secure
makes it highly challenging for the government to win over online voting platform that is based on blockchain
voters' trust. The previous and present digital voting systems technology and has an audit trail feature for monitoring
have failed because they are vulnerable to abuse. democratic progress in real-time [4]. The platform allows
The main goal is to fix issues with the traditional and voters to cast their votes remotely and securely, and choose
electronic voting systems, including any form of error or their preferred candidate. The identification of the voters is
unfairness that may occur when voting. The computerized then used to open the ballot box and verify the correctness of
voting methods are not flawless enough to be used on a their ballot. The election results are mathematically verified
broad scale, and the physical voting systems have numerous for accuracy.
problems as well [1]. In comparison to manual polling, Agora - A team has developed a digital voting platform
electronic voting systems increase election dependability. It based on blockchain technology. It was founded in 2015 and
has improved the process efficiency and authenticity partially implemented its platform during the Sierra Leone
compared to the traditional voting approach. Electronic
presidential election in March 2018. The architecture of their
platform is based on several technological innovations
including a custom blockchain, unique participatory security,
and a legitimate consensus mechanism [5]. In this ecosystem,
the vote serves as the native token, which promotes citizen
participation and selected organizations to ensure secure and
transparent electoral processes globally.
Luxoft – In collaboration with the Swiss cities of Zug and
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, worldwide I.T.
service company Luxoft Harding, Inc. created the first
customized blockchain electronic voting system utilized by a
significant industry [6]. Luxoft declares its commitment to
open source this platform and creates a Government Alliance
Blockchain to promote blockchain use in public institutions
Fig. 1. The tree diagram depicts the modules that
in order to encourage government acceptance of blockchain-
are featured the most frequently in all of the reference
based services.
articles that have been surveyed. 5 such modules are shown
Voatz - This company set up a mobile phone voting system in the diagram. A comprehensive explanation of each
on blockchain to vote remotely and anonymously as well as module is stated below.
authenticate that the votes were tallied accurately [7]. Voters
verify their registrants on the application, and they provide
proof of their identity through an image and biometric A. Blockchain Network
verification, such as a unique signature like a fingerprint or The blockchain network is the underlying infrastructure
retinal scan. that supports the entire system [10]. It is a decentralized,
distributed ledger that records all transactions and votes in a
Polys - A blockchain-based online voting system called
secure and immutable manner. Some of its key features are
Polys is supported by open-source cryptographic techniques.
as follows:
These are run by Kaspersky Lab [8]. Polys assists student
councils, unions, and associations in organizing elections and Decentralized: The blockchain network used in this
disseminating election information to the student body. project is decentralized, meaning that there is no central
Online elections using Polys increase community authority controlling the system. Instead, the system is
productivity, strengthen relationships with group leaders and supported by a network of nodes that collectively validate
draw in new supporters [9]. and maintain the ledger. This ensures that there is no single
point of failure in the system and that the system is resistant
to attacks and tampering.
Table 1. Comparison of current electronic voting systems
Distributed Ledger: The blockchain network used in this
built on blockchain technology. project is a distributed ledger, which means that every node
in the network has a copy of the ledger. This ensures that the
Online Voting ledger is transparent and that all stakeholders have access to
Framework Language
Platform the same information. Each transaction or vote is recorded on
Follow My Vote Bitcoin C++ the ledger, and once recorded, it cannot be altered or deleted,
ensuring the integrity and immutability of the voting process.
Agora Bitcoin Python
Consensus Algorithm: The blockchain network used in
Luxsoft Hyperledger GO/JavaScript this project employs a consensus algorithm to validate
Fabric transactions and votes on the network. The consensus
algorithm ensures that all nodes in the network agree on the
Voatz Hyperledger GO/JavaScript validity of each transaction or vote. The consensus algorithm
Fabric used in this project can be proof-of-work (PoW), proof-of-
stake (PoS), or any other consensus algorithm that is secure
Polyz Ethereum Solidity and efficient [11].

II. METHODOLOGY Security: The blockchain network used in this project has
robust security measures to prevent hacking attempts, data
breaches, and tampering. The network uses encryption,
A voting system using blockchain technology project is a access controls, and network security protocols to ensure that
system that uses a decentralized and transparent approach to the voting process is secure and trustworthy.
conduct elections, ensuring the integrity and security of the
voting process.
B. Smart Contracts
A smart contract is a self-executing program that runs on a
blockchain network and can automate the process of
executing a contract or agreement [10]. In a voting system
using blockchain technology project, smart contracts are
used to automate the voting process and ensure that it is clean and organized layout, with clear headings and labels,
secure, transparent, and tamper-proof. Here is detailed to make it easy for voters to navigate and use the system.
information about the smart contract written and used in this
project: Dashboard: The UI features a dashboard that displays
important information related to the voting process, such as
Purpose: the number of registered voters, the number of votes cast,
The smart contract written for this project is designed to and the deadline for submitting votes.
automate the voting process and ensure that it is transparent,
secure, and tamper-proof. The smart contract defines the Registration: The UI includes a registration page that
rules and regulations of the voting process, including allows eligible voters to register for the voting process. The
eligibility criteria for voters, the number of votes allowed page asks for the voter's unique identifier, such as a
per voter, and the deadline for submitting votes. government-issued ID, and verifies their eligibility to vote.

Programming Language: Voting: The UI includes a voting page that allows

The smart contract written for this project is programmed in registered voters to cast their votes. The page displays the
Solidity, which is a high-level programming language candidates or options and allows voters to select their
specifically designed for writing smart contracts on the preferred option.
Ethereum blockchain.
Confirmation: The UI includes a confirmation page that
Functions: confirms the voter's selection and provides an opportunity to
The smart contract contains several functions, including: review their vote before submitting it. This helps to prevent
• Registering voters: This function allows eligible voters accidental or fraudulent voting.
to register for the voting process by providing their
unique identifier, such as a government-issued ID. Results: The UI includes a results page that displays the
• Casting votes: This function allows registered voters to results of the voting process. The page displays the number
cast their votes by specifying their preferred candidate of votes cast for each candidate or option and declares the
or option. winner.
• Counting votes: This function counts the number of
votes cast for each candidate or option and declares the Feedback: The UI includes a feedback page that allows
winner. voters to provide feedback on the voting process. This helps
• Time stamping: This function time-stamps each vote to improve the system and ensure that it meets the needs and
and ensures that no votes are accepted after the expectations of voters.
deadline.

Security Measures:
The smart contract has robust security measures to prevent
hacking attempts, data breaches, and tampering [12]. It uses
encryption, access controls, and network security protocols
to ensure that the voting process is trustworthy.

Decentralized Execution:
The smart contract is executed in a decentralized manner,
meaning that it runs on a network of nodes and is validated
by consensus among the nodes [12]. This ensures that the
voting process is transparent and tamper-proof, as no single
entity can manipulate the results.

Transparency: Fig. 2 The above figure is an image of the UI of the home

The smart contract is transparent, meaning that all page of the system. It is designed on Figma for reference
stakeholders can access the same information [13]. This while building the actual application.
ensures that the voting process is transparent and that all
parties can verify the results of the election.

C. User Interface
The user interface (UI) of a voting system using blockchain
technology project is designed to provide a user-friendly and
intuitive interface for voters to interact with the system [14].
Here is detailed information about the UI of this project:

Design: The UI of the voting system is designed to be

simple, intuitive, and user-friendly. The design includes a
 E. Audit Trail
An audit trail is an important feature that allows for
transparency and accountability. Here is detailed
information on how the audit trail works in the system:

Blockchain data: All transactions, including the

votes cast by the voters, are recorded on the
blockchain ledger. The blockchain provides an
immutable record of all transactions, which makes
it possible to track every action taken on the
system.

Smart contract: The smart contract code that is

Fig. 3 The above figure is an image of the UI of the login used in the system is designed to ensure that all
page. It is designed on Figma for reference while building transactions are recorded on the blockchain ledger.
the actual application. The code also ensures that all actions taken on the
system are transparent and tamper-proof.
D. Result Declaration
Timestamps: Each transaction on the blockchain
The process of vote counting and result declaration is given
ledger is timestamped. This means that it is
below:
possible to track the time and date of each action
taken on the system [16]. Timestamps are critical
Blockchain data:
in determining the order in which transactions
All votes cast by the voters are recorded in a blockchain
occurred, which is important in ensuring the
ledger. This ledger is tamper-proof and secure, making it an
integrity of the voting process.
ideal platform for recording votes [15]. The blockchain
ledger records each vote as a transaction and these
Access controls: The system has access controls
transactions are recorded on the blocks in a sequential and
that ensure that only authorized users can access
immutable manner.
the system. This means that all actions taken on the
system can be attributed to a specific user [14].
Vote counting:
Once the voting period is over, the votes are counted. The
vote counting is done automatically by the system by
counting the number of votes recorded for each candidate or III. LITERATURE SURVEY
option on the blockchain ledger.
A. Blockchain Technology and its implementation
Smart contract: 1. Blockchain Technology and Implementation: A
The vote-counting process is done through a smart contract. Systematic Literature Review:
The smart contract code is designed to ensure that the vote-
counting process is transparent [4]. It is executed The authors use a systematic approach to examine
automatically by the system, ensuring that the vote counting 51 peer-reviewed articles related to blockchain
is done in a fair and consistent manner. technology and analyze the findings to identify key
themes and research gaps. The paper first provides
Results: an overview of blockchain technology and its core
The vote-counting process generates the results of the features, including decentralization, transparency,
election. The results are then displayed on the UI for all immutability, and security. The authors then
voters to see. The results are also recorded on the discuss the various applications of blockchain
blockchain ledger, making them tamper-proof. The results technology in different sectors, such as finance,
are announced once the vote-counting process is complete. healthcare, and supply chain management. The
authors identify several key benefits of blockchain
Verification: technology, including increased security,
Voters can verify that their vote was recorded correctly by transparency, and efficiency. They also discuss the
checking the blockchain ledger. The blockchain ledger challenges and limitations of blockchain
provides a transparent and secure way for voters to verify technology, such as scalability, interoperability,
that their vote was recorded accurately. and regulatory issues. The paper also examines the
various blockchain implementation frameworks
Security: and methodologies, such as the Agile and Waterfall
The blockchain ledger is encrypted and secured using approaches, and identifies the key success factors
cryptographic algorithms. This ensures that the vote- for blockchain implementation projects.
counting process is free from fraud, manipulation, or any Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive
other form of unwanted interference. overview of the current state of blockchain
technology and its implementation, highlighting its
 potential benefits and challenges. It also provides transparency, and fraud. The authors then discuss
useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and how blockchain technology can potentially address
policymakers interested in blockchain technology. these challenges by providing a secure, transparent,
and decentralized platform for voting. The paper
then reviews the existing literature on blockchain-
B. Limitations of EVMs
based electronic voting systems, discussing the
1. Electronic voting machine — A review: different types of systems and their advantages and
limitations. The authors analyze the different
The authors begin by discussing the traditional paper design choices made by the various systems, such
ballot system and the problems associated with it, such as the consensus mechanism, voter authentication,
as voter fraud and miscounting of votes. They then and privacy protections.
introduce electronic voting machines and their Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of
advantages, such as increased accuracy and faster vote the challenges that must be addressed for
counting. blockchain-based electronic voting systems to
‘The authors also review the security issues associated become widely adopted, such as scalability, legal
with electronic voting, such as hacking and tampering and regulatory issues, and the need for voter
of EVMs, and discuss the various measures taken to education.
ensure the security and integrity of electronic voting
systems. Table 2. Analyzing selective voting system built using
The paper concludes by highlighting the need for blockchain technology.
further research and development of electronic voting
machines to address the challenges and limitations of Authors Framewor Requirements
current systems. Overall, the paper provides a useful k
overview of electronic voting machines and their role in
modern elections.

Accessibility
Anonymity

Scalability
Integrity
Audit
C. Incorporating Blockchain technology in voting
systems
1. Blockchain-based Voting Systems: A Survey and Yi [17] Bitcoin ✓ ✓ ✓  
Taxonomy: Khan, K.M. [18] Multichain  ✓ ✓  ✓
Shahzad and
The paper reviews the current state-of-the-art in the Bitcoin ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 
Crowcroft [19]
field. The paper begins by discussing the
McCorry,
advantages and disadvantages of blockchain Ethereum ✓  ✓  
Shahandashti [10]
technology for voting systems, including security,
transparency, and anonymity.
The paper then presents a taxonomy of blockchain-
based voting systems based on their design IV. ADVANTAGES
characteristics, such as the type of blockchain used,
A voting system based on blockchain technology can
the level of decentralization, and the method of
help ensure a fair and secure election process while
voter authentication. The authors also discuss the
enhancing transparency and accessibility for all voters. Some
different components of a blockchain-based voting of the advantages are as follows:
system, such as the user interface, the consensus
algorithm, and the smart contracts that govern the Security: The blockchain-based voting system provides
voting process. enhanced security as it is based on a decentralized
The paper goes on to review the current state-of- architecture, making it impossible for hackers to
the-art blockchain-based voting systems, manipulate the voting results.
highlighting some of the most promising systems Transparency: The clarity in the voting process is ensured
and discussing their advantages and limitations. because all transactions are public and visible to
The authors also identify some of the key everybody.
challenges facing the development of blockchain-
Immutability: The blockchain-based voting system is
based voting systems, such as scalability, privacy,
immutable, meaning that once a vote is recorded on the
and regulatory issues.
blockchain, it cannot be changed or tampered with.
2. A Survey of Blockchain-based Electronic Voting Accessibility: The blockchain-based voting system can
Systems be accessed from anywhere, making it easier for voters to
cast their votes without having to visit the polling booth
The paper begins by providing an overview of the physically.
current challenges in electronic voting systems, Cost-effective: The blockchain-based voting system can
including security vulnerabilities, lack of help reduce the cost of conducting elections, as it
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