Project Report

on

Voting System Using Blockchain(dApp)

Submitted to
Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University
In partial Fulfillment of the Requirement
For the Degree of
Bachelor of Engineering in
Computer Science and Engineering

Submitted by:
Mr. Pramey Deshmukh
Mr. Chinmay Gulhane
Mr. Mohd. Meeran Iqbal
Mr. Mohd Daniyal
Mr. Anurag Vinchurkar

Under the Guidance of

Dr. R. A. Zamare

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering,
Shegaon – 444 203 (M.S.)
2023-23
 SIIRI SANT GAJANANI MAHARAJ COLLEGE OF EI\GINEERING,
SHEGAON - 444 203 (M.S.)
DEPARTMEI{T OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERTI\G

This is to certifir that Mr. Pramey Deshmukh, Mr. Chinmay Gulhane, Mr.
Mohd Daniyal, Mr. Mohd Meeran and Mr" Anurag Yinchurkar students of final
year B.E. in the year 2020-21 of Computer Science and Engineering Departrnent of
this institute has completed the project work entitled "Yoting System Using
Blockchain(dApp)" based on syllabus and has submitted a satisfactory account of
his work in this report which is recommended for the partial fulfillment of degree of
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering.

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Dr. R. A. Zamare S. B.
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Patil Dr. S.
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Project Guide Head of Departrnent Principal

 SHRI SANT GAJANAN MAHARAJ COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,
SHEGAON – 444 203 (M.S.)
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work entitled “Voting System Using

Blockchain(dApp)” submitted by that Mr. Pramey Deshmukh, Mr. Chinmay Gulhane,

Mr. Mohd Daniyal, Mr. Mohd Meeran and Mr. Anurag Vinchurkar students of final
year B.E. in the year 2020-21 of Computer Science and Engineering Department of this
institute, is a satisfactory account of his work based on syllabus which is recommended for
the partial fulfillment of degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and
Engineering.

Internal Examiner External Examiner

Date: Date:
Voting System using Blockchain

Abstract

In any democratic country, Voting is a fundamental right of any citizen that enables them
to choose the leaders of tomorrow. As a digital platform, they eliminate the need to cast
your votes using paper or having to gather in person. They also protect the integrity of
your vote by preventing voters from being able to vote multiple times.
Electronic voting or e-voting has fundamental benefits over paper based systems such as
increased efficiency and reduced errors. The electronic voting system tends to maximize
user participation, by allowing them to vote from anywhere and from any device that has
an internet connection. The blockchain is an emerging, decentralized, and distributed
technology with strong cryptographic foundations that promises to improve different
aspects of many industries. Expanding e-voting into blockchain technology could be the
solution to alleviate the present concerns in e-voting. Here we propose a blockchain-based
voting system that will limit the voting fraud and make the voting process simple, secure
and efficient.

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Voting System using Blockchain

Acknowledgement

The real spirit of achieving a goal is through the way of excellence and lustrous
discipline. We would have never succeeded in completing my task without the
cooperation, encouragement and help provided to me by various personalities.

We would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to my guide

Dr. R. A. Zamare, for her esteemed guidance and encouragement, especially through
difficult times. Her suggestions broaden our vision and guide us to succeed in this work.
We are also very grateful for her guidance and comments while studying part of our
project and learnt many things under her leadership.

We extend our thanks to Dr. S.B. Patil Head of Computer Science & Engineering
Department, Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, Shegaon for their
valuable support that made us consistent performers.

We also extend my thanks to Dr. S. B. Somani, Principal Shri Sant Gajanan

Maharaj College of Engineering, Shegaon for their valuable support.

Also, we would like to thanks to all teaching and non-teaching staff of the
department for their encouragement, cooperation, and help. Our greatest thanks are to
all who wished me success especially my parents, my friends whose support and care
makes me stay on earth.

Pramey Deshmukh
Chinmay Gulhane
Mohd. Meeran Iqbal
Mohd. Daniyal Mohd. Tahsin
Anurag Vinchurkar
Final Year B. E. Sem-VIII, CSE
Session 2022-23

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Voting System using Blockchain

Contents

Abstract i
Acknowledgement ii
Contents iii
List of figures v
List of Snapshots vi
1.Introduction 1
1.1 Problem Statement 1
1.2 Introduction 2
1.3 Background 2
1.4 Existing System 5
2. Related work 6
3. Blockchain Architecture 9
3.1 Components and Benefits 9
3.2 Blockchain Network 11
3.3 Smart Contract 13
3.4 MetaMask 15
3.5 Ganache 17
3.6 Remix IDE 19
3.7 Polygon Test net Mumbai 21
3.8 Netlify 23
4. Problem and Solutions Of developing online voting systems 25
4.1 Eligibility 25
4.2 Non-Reusability 25
4.3 Privacy 26
4.4 Fairness 26
4.5 Soundness and Completeness 26

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 Voting System using Blockchain

Contents

5. System Requirements 28
5.1 Anonymity 28
5.2 Auditability and Accuracy 28
5.3 Democracy/Singularity 28
5.4 Vote Privacy 28
5.5 Robustness and Integrity 28
5.6 Lack of Evidence 29
5.7 Transparency 29
5.8 Availability and Mobility 29
5.9 Verifiable Participation/Authencity 29
5.10 Accessibility and Reassurance 29
5.11 Recoverability and Identification 30
5.12 Voters Verifiability 30
6. Future scope 31
7. Conclusion 32
8. User Manual 33
9. Publication and Certificates 38
References 42

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Voting System using Blockchain

List of Figures

Figure 1.1 The Blockchain Structure

Figure 3.1 Core Components of Blockchain Architecture
Figure 3.2 Characteristics of Blockchain Architecture
Figure 3.3 Block Structure
Figure 5.1 Security Requirements

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Voting System using Blockchain

List of Snapshots

Snapshot 01 Traditional Voting system

Snapshot 02 MetaMask Account Activity
Snapshot 03 Remix IDE
Snapshot 04 Transaction Details on the Test Net
Snapshot 05 Deployed Contract on Polygon Test Network
Snapshot 06 Home Page of Blockchain Voting System
Snapshot 07 Admin User Interface
Snapshot 08 Transaction Conformation through MetaMask
Snapshot 09 User Interface before start of an Election process
Snapshot 10 User Interface for Voting Process and Transaction Conformation
Snapshot 11 Transacation Conformation for Mobile Phone User
Snapshot 12 Transaction Failure in case of Double Voting
Snapshot 13 Admin User Interface during on going Election
Snapshot 14 Result Page for Voter

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Voting System using Blockchain

1. Introduction

1.1 Problem Statement

The current traditional voting system has several limitations such as lack of
transparency, security, and accountability. The system is vulnerable to fraud,
manipulation, and hacking, which can compromise the accuracy and integrity of the
results. Additionally, the traditional voting system involves a lot of manual
processes, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and prone to errors.

Moreover, the current voting system is not accessible to all voters, especially those
who are physically disabled, living in remote areas, or unable to travel to the voting
centres. This leads to low voter turnout, which can affect the legitimacy of the
election results.

Therefore, there is a need for a secure, transparent, and accessible voting system that
can address the limitations of the traditional voting system. Blockchain technology
offers a potential solution to this problem by providing a decentralized and
distributed platform that can ensure the integrity and immutability of data. The
proposed e-voting system based on blockchain technology aims to address these
limitations and provide a more secure, transparent, and accessible voting process.

1.2 Introduction: -
Voting whether conducted through the traditional ballot or via electronic means
forms the basis on which democracy depends. With the rise in technological impact
on the youth of the country and the various anomalies faced by the current electoral
process, using technology to modify the existing process is a necessity of the hour.
However, for any new technique to take the place of current voting system, the said
system needs to satisfy certain minimum criteria. Electronic Voting has taken centre
place in research with the intention of minimizing the cost associated in setting up
the voting process, while ensuring the electoral integrity is maintained by fulfilling
privacy, security, and compliance requirements.

The current method, whether electronic or not has proved to be unsatisfactory with
respect to transparency. It can be very difficult for the voters to be assured that the
vote he/she has casted during the election reflects in the election result. Electronic
voting using Direct Recording Electronic do not generate receipt on successful
casting of votes. No record of election except vote count is made public by the
government, which means that the voters are not assured of any external interference
in case of government conducting the process of vote recounting. Replacing the
traditional method with electronic method using Blockchain technique has the ability

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Voting System using Blockchain

to prevent potential frauds that may take place during election.

Blockchain technology is a distributed network of interconnected nodes. A copy of

distributed ledger is assigned to each node, each of which contains a complete
history of all the transactions that have been processed by the network. Each
transaction processed generated a hash. The hash created depends not only on the
current transaction but also on the hash of the previous transaction. Thus any small
change on the data will impact the hash of the transaction. If a transaction is
approved by a majority of nodes it is written to the block. This allows the users to
remain autonomous while using the system. A basic analysis of Blockchain suggests
that it provides the potential of making the voting process more secure and reliable.

1.3 Background

The first things that come to mind about the blockchain are cryptocurrencies and
smart contracts because of the well-known initiatives in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Bitcoin was the first crypto-currency solution that used a blockchain data structure.
Ethereum introduced smart contracts that leverage the power of blockchain
immutability and distributed consensus while offering a crypto-currency solution
comparable to Bitcoin. The concept of smart contracts was introduced much earlier
by Nick Szabo in the 1990s and is described as “a set of promises, specified in digital
form, including protocols within which the parties perform on these promises”. In
Ethereum, a smart contract is a piece of code deployed to the network so that
everyone has access to it. The result of executing this code is verified by a consensus
mechanism and by every member of the network.

Today, we call a blockchain a set of technologies combining the blockchain data

structure itself, distributed consensus algorithm, public key cryptography, and smart
contracts. Below we describe these technologies in more detail.

Blockchain creates a series of blocks replicated on a peer-to-peer network. Any block

in blockchain has a cryptographic hash and timestamp added to the previous block. A
block contains the Merkle tree block header and several transactions. It is a secure
networking method that combines computer science and mathematics to hide data
and information from others that is called cryptography. It allows the data to be
transmitted securely across the insecure network, in encrypted and decrypted forms.

As was already mentioned, the blockchain itself is the name for the data structure.
All the written data are divided into blocks, and each block contains a hash of all the
data from the previous block as part of its data. The aim of using such a data
structure is to achieve provable immutability. If a piece of data is changed, the
block’s hash containing this piece needs to be recalculated, and the hashes of all
subsequent blocks also need to be recalculated. It means only the hash of the latest

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Voting System using Blockchain

block has to be used to guarantee that all the data remains unchanged. In blockchain
solutions, data stored in blocks are formed from all the validated transactions during
their creation, which means no one can insert, delete, or alter transactions in an
already validated block without it being noticed. The initial zero-block, called the
“genesis block,” usually contains some network settings, for example, the initial set
of validators (those who issue blocks).

Figure 1.1 The Blockchain Structure

Blockchain solutions are developed to be used in a distributed environment. It is

assumed that nodes contain identical data and form a peer-to-peer network without a
central authority. A consensus algorithm is used to reach an agreement on blockchain
data that is fault-tolerant in the presence of malicious actors. Such consensus is
called Byzantine fault tolerance, named after the Byzantine Generals’ Problem.
Blockchain solutions use different Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) consensus
algorithms: Those that are intended to be used in fully decentralized self-organizing
networks, such as cryptocurrency platforms, use algorithms such as proof-of-work or
proof-of-stake, where validators are chosen by an algorithm so that it is economically
profitable for them to act honestly. When the network does not need to be self-
organized, validators can be chosen at the network setup stage. The point is that all
validators execute all incoming transactions and agree on achieving results so that
more than two-thirds of honest validators need to decide on the outcome.

Public key cryptography is used mainly for two purposes: Firstly, all validators own
their keypairs used to sign consensus messages, and, secondly, all incoming
transactions (requests to modify blockchain data) have to be signed to determine the
requester. Anonymity in a blockchain context relates to the fact that anyone wanting

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Voting System using Blockchain

to use cryptocurrencies just needs to generate a random keypair and use it to control
a wallet linked to a public key. The blockchain solution guarantees that only the
keypair owner can manage the funds in the wallet, and this property is verifiable. As
for online voting, ballots need to be accepted anonymously but only from eligible
voters, so a blockchain by itself definitely cannot solve the issue of voter privacy.

Smart contracts breathed new life into blockchain solutions. They stimulated the
application of blockchain technology in efforts to improve numerous spheres. A
smart contract itself is nothing more than a piece of logic written in code.

Still, it can act as an unconditionally trusted third party in conjunction with the
immutability provided by a blockchain data structure and distributed consensus.
Once written, it cannot be altered, and all the network participants verify all steps.
The great thing about smart contracts is that anybody who can set up a blockchain
node can verify its outcome.

As is the case with any other technology, blockchain technology has its drawbacks.
Unlike other distributed solutions, a blockchain is hard to scale: An increasing
number of nodes does not improve network performance because, by definition,
every node needs to execute all transactions, and this process is not shared among the
nodes. Moreover, increasing the number of validators impacts performance because
it implies a more intensive exchange of messages during consensus. For the same
reason, blockchain solutions are vulnerable to various denial-of-service attacks. If a
blockchain allows anyone to publish smart contracts in a network, then the operation
of the entire network can be disabled by simply putting an infinite loop in a smart
contract. A network can also be attacked by merely sending a considerable number
of transactions: At some point, the system will refuse to receive anything else. In
cryptocurrency solutions, all transactions have an execution cost: the more resources
a transaction utilizes, the more expensive it will be, and there is a cost threshold, with
transactions exceeding the threshold being discarded. In private blockchain networks,
this problem is solved depending on how the network is implemented via the exact
mechanism of transaction cost, access control, or something more suited to the
specific context.

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Voting System using Blockchain

1.4 Existing System

In traditional voting systems, citizens must physically go to a designated polling

place and cast their vote. The voting process is typically paper based, where voters
mark their choices on a ballot paper and drop it into a ballot box. The counting of
votes is also carried out manually, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
This system can also be susceptible to fraud, as there is no easy way to verify the
accuracy of the results.

Over the years, electronic voting (e-voting) systems have been developed and
implemented. These systems aim to provide a more efficient and accurate way of
voting. However, many e-voting systems have faced criticism due to concerns about
the security, privacy, and transparency of the process.

Some existing e-voting systems use centralized servers to store and process votes.
This can be problematic, as a single point of failure can compromise the entire
system. Other systems use cryptography to secure the voting process, but these
systems can be complex and difficult to implement.

Overall, the existing voting systems have limitations in terms of security,

transparency, and accuracy, which can lead to a lack of trust in the voting process.

Snapshot 1 Traditional Voting system

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Voting System using Blockchain

2. Related work
Electronic voting (e-voting) has been a topic of interest for several decades.
With the advancement of technology, there has been a growing interest in developing
secure and reliable e-voting systems. However, traditional e-voting systems have
been criticized for their lack of security, transparency, and auditability.
Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to address the
shortcomings of traditional e-voting systems. Blockchain technology utilizes a
decentralized and distributed platform that provides a secure and tamper-proof
environment for data storage and processing. Several researchers have proposed e-
voting systems based on blockchain technology.

[1] In 2022, a group of researchers provided a comprehensive survey of blockchain-

based e-voting systems, analysing their strengths and weaknesses. The authors
identify the main challenges faced by these systems, such as scalability, security, and
privacy, and provide recommendations for addressing them. In this work, an e-voting
system, which has the characteristic of coercion-resistance, is proposed. They utilize
receiver-deniable encryption in the registration phase to realize coercion-resistance.
And we adopt blockchain technology to ensure that the process and results of our
electronic voting system are fair and transparent. We also designed a time-release
encryption algorithm in the tallying phase to make the smart contract decrypt ballots
and tally after the appointed time. It can guarantee the fairness of our e-voting system
further and avoid election fraud. Our scheme is proved coercion-resistant by
simulating the election operations. And we also give detailed safety analysis of other
security requirements. Finally, we discuss that the proposed scheme has better
efficiency in a small-scale voting.

[2] In 2021, a group of researchers proposed a blockchain-based e-voting system that

ensures transparency and voter anonymity. The authors utilize a hybrid blockchain
architecture that combines public and private blockchains to ensure the accuracy and
transparency of the voting process. It can guarantee the fairness of our e-voting
system further and avoid election fraud. Our scheme is proved coercion-resistant by
simulating the election operations. And we also give detailed safety analysis of other
security requirements. Several research gaps in e-voting have presented that need to
be taken into account for future studies. Scalability attacks, less transparency, use of
untrusted systems and coercion resistance may have additional disadvantages and
should be resolved. Since the blockchain-based e-voting systems are still required
further testing, we are not fully aware of all the risks that are associated with the
security and scalability of such systems. Implementing blockchain voting practices
can bring unknown security risks and vulnerabilities. Blockchain systems require a
more complex design in software and management skills. Finally, we discuss that
the proposed scheme has a better efficiency in a small-scale voting.

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Voting System using Blockchain

[3] In 2020, a group of researchers proposed an e-voting system that utilizes smart
contracts to automate the voting process and ensure the integrity of the results. The
authors utilize the Ethereum blockchain platform to develop the system and provide
a detailed analysis of its security and performance. In this paper we analyzed and
discussed about the traditional voting system and the advantages of implementation
blockchain based E-voting system that uses various blockchain based tools and using
case study of manual voting process. The implementation uses blockchain as a
centralized voting system. This system will use blockchain as a network as well as
database to store voter’s information or credentials which is going to use for their
authentication. System will be using candidate’s or voter’s details for the voting
process. After that we saw the comparison between traditional voting system used
and the blockchain based e voting system.

[4] In 2020, a group of researchers proposed an e-voting system that utilizes

blockchain technology and verifiable voting to ensure the accuracy and transparency
of the voting process. This has provided an insufficient basis for government
decision-makers and key election stakeholder to be able to make an informed
decision on the merits of blockchain e-voting for national elections. To address this
gap, we demonstrated how the architecture trade-off analysis method could be used
to enable election stakeholders to understand the potential risks, challenges, and
prospects of blockchain e-voting through a participatory architecture assessment and
documentation process. The authors provide a detailed analysis of the system's
security and performance and test it on a simulated network.

[5] In 2019, a group of researchers proposed an e-voting system that utilizes multi-
party computation (MPC) and blockchain technology to ensure the security and
privacy of the voting process. The authors provide a detailed analysis of the system's
security and performance and test it on a simulated network. Blockchain is a special
research topic that deserves a thorough evaluation because of its fast-growing
popularity among researchers, businesses, and clients who are trying to solve
numerous security problems using blockchain. Recently, the research community has
been highlighting blockchain's failure to meet all needs and have started proposing
decision schemes that differentiate whether blockchain is suitable for a selected
application. These decision schemes are still not consistent among themselves. In this
work, we have evaluated blockchain's suitability from a quantitative perspective. To
the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to do so. Based on the results
obtained in this work, we recommend researchers new to blockchain and
entrepreneurs considering blockchain applications, to invest their efforts in
ownership, supply chain management and telecommunication and transportation
applications as they are the prominent areas where blockchain will most likely
mature in the future and are the least risky

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Voting System using Blockchain

[6] In 2020, a group of researchers proposed an e-voting system that utilizes

homomorphic encryption and blockchain technology to ensure the privacy and
security of the voting process. Traditional voting emphasizes the authority of the
state. BEV emphasizes voter transparency. The BEV process is transparent,
decentralized, and bottom-up. BEV might not perform well in a society whose
culture and values exhibit low compatibility with these values. Also, blockchains
require much energy to perform authentication and validation, and they’re slow. So,
using them for national e-voting might not be practical yet. Finally, BEV will shift
power away from central actors such as electoral authorities and government
agencies. Thus, the technology is likely to face resistance from political leaders who
benefit from the status quo. The authors provide a detailed analysis of the system's
security and performance and test it on a simulated network.

[7] In 2020, a group of researchers proposed a auditable blockchain voting system.

Most of the existing today voting systems suffer from inadequate transparency and
lack of audit capabilities. Despite being the most important democratic process,
voting is outside the control of common voters. They are not able to inspect and
verify if the voting process was conducted correctly or whether their votes were
really included in a vote pool. The common voters must rely on election officials’
honesty, which is often not enough to build trust in a democratic system. Blockchain
technology is a potential solution to these issues. The technology can be integrated
into e-voting which in turn may provide the voters with audit capabilities and ability
to supervise their votes. Blockchain-based e-voting system would reduce risk of
election frauds and manipulations.

[8] In 2020, a group of researchers proposed a blockchain based voting system. In

that, we got introduced to a blockchain-based electronic voting system that utilizes
smart contracts to enable secure and cost-efficient election while guaranteeing voters
privacy. We have shown that the blockchain technology offers a new possibility to
overcome the limitations and adoption barriers of electronic voting systems which
ensures the election security and integrity and lays the ground for transparency.
Using an Ethereum private blockchain, it is possible to send hundreds of transactions
per second onto the blockchain, utilizing every aspect of the smart contract to ease
the load on the blockchain. For countries of greater size, some additional measures
would be needed to support greater throughput of transactions per second.

In summary, the literature survey shows that blockchain technology has emerged as a
potential solution to address the shortcomings of traditional e-voting systems.
Several researchers have proposed e-voting systems based on blockchain technology
that are secure, transparent, and auditable. The proposed systems have been
evaluated and found to be secure and efficient. However, further research is needed
to develop and improve e-voting systems based on blockchain technology.

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Voting System using Blockchain

3. Architecture of Blockchain

3.1 Components

These are the main architectural components of Blockchain:

Figure 3.1 Core Components of Blockchain Architecture

 Node: Users or computers in blockchain layout (every device has a different

copy of a complete ledger from the blockchain)
 Transaction: It is the blockchain system’s smallest building block (records
and details), which blockchain uses.
 Block: A block is a collection of data structures used to process transactions
over the network distributed to all nodes.
 Chain: A series of blocks in a particular order.
 Miners: Correspondent nodes to validate the transaction and add that block
into the blockchain system.
 Consensus: A collection of commands and organizations to carry out
blockchain processes.

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Voting System using Blockchain

Blockchain architecture has many benefits for all sectors that incorporate blockchain.
Here are a variety of embedded characteristics :

 Cryptography: Blockchain transactions are authenticated and accurate

because of computations and cryptographic evidence between the parties
involved;
 Immutability: Any blockchain documents cannot be changed or deleted;
 Provenance: It refers to the fact that every transaction can be tracked in the
blockchain ledger;
 Decentralization: The entire distributed database may be accessible by all
members of the blockchain network. A consensus algorithm allows control of
the system, as shown in the core process;
 Anonymity: A blockchain network participant has generated an address rather
than a user identification. It maintains anonymity, especially in a blockchain
public system;
 Transparency: It means being unable to manipulate the blockchain network. It
does not happen as it takes immense computational resources to erase the
blockchain network.

Figure 3.2 Characteristics of Blockchain Architecture

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Voting System using Blockchain

3.2 Blockchain Network

The blockchain network will be the foundation of the proposed system. The network
will consist of multiple nodes that will store the voting data and ensure its integrity
and immutability. The blockchain network will be decentralized and distributed,
which means that there will be no central authority controlling the voting process.

The blockchain network will ensure that the voting data is secure and tamper-proof,
and that the results are accurate and trustworthy.
Here are some important aspects and characteristics of a blockchain network:

 Decentralization: Blockchain networks are decentralized, meaning there is no

central authority or single point of control. Instead, the network consists of
multiple nodes, each participating in the validation and maintenance of the
blockchain. This decentralized structure enhances security, transparency, and
resistance to censorship or tampering.

 Distributed Ledger: The blockchain is a distributed ledger that records a

chronological and immutable history of all transactions and data within the
network. Each participating node maintains a copy of the entire blockchain,
ensuring that all nodes have access to the same information. This distributed
nature eliminates the need for a central database and enables transparency and
consensus among participants.

 Consensus Mechanisms: Blockchain networks rely on consensus mechanisms

to agree on the state of the blockchain and validate transactions. Different
consensus algorithms, such as Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), or
Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), are used to determine which nodes can add
new blocks to the chain and reach a consensus on the validity of transactions.
Consensus mechanisms ensure that all nodes in the network agree on the state
of the blockchain, maintain its integrity, and prevent double-spending or
fraudulent activities.

 Peer-to-Peer Communication: Nodes in a blockchain network communicate

with each other in a peer-to-peer fashion, allowing them to exchange
information and propagate transactions and blocks across the network. Peer-
to-peer communication eliminates the need for intermediaries or centralized
servers, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

 Security and Immutability: Blockchain networks provide strong security and

immutability of data. Once a transaction is added to a block and confirmed by
the network, it becomes nearly impossible to alter or tamper with. The use of
cryptographic algorithms, such as hashing and digital signatures, ensures the
integrity and authenticity of transactions and blocks.

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Voting System using Blockchain

 Network Governance: Blockchain networks may have different governance

models that determine how decisions are made regarding protocol upgrades,
network rules, and consensus changes. Governance can be decentralized, with
decisions made through consensus among network participants, or it can
involve specific entities or organizations responsible for maintaining and
evolving the network.

 Interoperability: Blockchain networks can be designed to interact and

interoperate with other blockchain networks or external systems.
Interoperability enables the exchange of assets, data, or information between
different blockchains or with traditional systems, fostering collaboration and
expanding the potential use cases of blockchain technology.

 Scalability: Scalability is an important consideration for blockchain networks

as they aim to handle a growing number of transactions and users. Different
scaling solutions, such as layer 2 protocols, sharding, or off-chain channels,
are being explored to improve the scalability and throughput of blockchain
networks while maintaining decentralization and security.

Blockchain networks are the foundation of blockchain technology, enabling secure

and transparent transactions without the need for intermediaries. They provide a
robust infrastructure for various applications, including cryptocurrencies, supply
chain management, voting systems, decentralized finance (DeFi), and much more.
As the technology continues to evolve, blockchain networks are being refined and
optimized to meet the demands of real-world use cases and drive the adoption of
decentralized solutions.

Figure 3.3 Block Structure

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Voting System using Blockchain

3.3 Smart Contracts

A smart contract is a self-executing computer program that is built on top of a

blockchain network. Smart contracts are designed to automatically execute the terms
of an agreement when certain conditions are met. They are used to automate the
execution of contracts, agreements, and other types of transactions.

The key feature of a smart contract is that it is self-executing. Once the terms of the
contract are met, the contract is automatically executed without the need for any
intermediaries. Smart contracts are also immutable, which means that they cannot be
altered once they are deployed on the blockchain.

Smart contracts are used in a variety of applications, including finance, real estate,
supply chain management and more. They are particularly useful in situations where
trust is an issue, as they provide a transparent and tamper-proof way of executing
transactions.

One of the main advantages of using smart contracts is that they can help reduce
transaction costs and increase efficiency. Because smart contracts are self-executing,
they eliminate the need for intermediaries such as lawyers, brokers and other third
parties. This can save time, money, and resources.

It is a piece of code that is stored and executed on a decentralized network, such as

Ethereum. Smart contracts enable parties to interact and transact with each other
directly without the need for intermediaries.

Here are some key characteristics and aspects of smart contracts:

 Digital Agreements: Smart contracts are digital representations of traditional

legal agreements. They define the terms, conditions, and rules of a particular
agreement or transaction. The terms are written in code, making them
verifiable, transparent, and tamper-proof.

 Self-executing and Autonomous: Once deployed on a blockchain, smart

contracts are self-executing, meaning they automatically perform the actions
defined within the code when specific conditions are met. They operate
without human intervention and follow a predetermined logic, eliminating the
need for intermediaries or third parties.

 Decentralization and Trustlessness: Smart contracts operate on a

decentralized network, such as a blockchain, which means they are not
controlled by any central authority. The execution and validation of smart
contracts rely on consensus mechanisms and cryptographic algorithms,
ensuring trust and transparency among all participants.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 13

Voting System using Blockchain

 Immutable and Transparent: Smart contracts, once deployed on a blockchain,

become part of a permanent and unalterable record. The code and its
execution history are transparent and visible to all participants on the
network. This immutability and transparency enhance security, as the terms
of the contract cannot be modified or tampered with.

 Programmable and Flexible: Smart contracts can incorporate complex logic

and calculations, allowing for programmable agreements with conditional
statements, loops, and functions. This flexibility enables the implementation
of various business rules and processes within the contract, automating tasks
and streamlining operations.

 Triggered by Transactions: Smart contracts are typically executed in response

to specific transactions or events on the blockchain. For example, a payment
received or a specific condition met can trigger the execution of code within
the smart contract, leading to the transfer of assets or the fulfillment of
contractual obligations.

 Tokenization and DeFi: Smart contracts have played a significant role in the
emergence of decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenization. They enable the
creation and management of digital tokens, such as cryptocurrencies or non-
fungible tokens (NFTs), which can represent various assets or rights.

 Smart Contract Languages: Smart contracts are written in specific

programming languages designed for blockchain platforms. For Ethereum,
the most commonly used language is Solidity, although other languages like
Vyper are also available. These languages provide syntax and features
tailored to writing secure and efficient smart contracts.

Smart contracts have the potential to revolutionize traditional business processes by

automating and digitizing agreements, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and
eliminating intermediaries. They have applications in various industries, including
finance, supply chain management, voting systems, decentralized applications
(DApps), and more. However, it's important to note that while smart contracts can
automate processes and enforce agreements, they cannot interpret real-world events
or conditions directly. They rely on external data sources or oracles to interact with
the outside world.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 14

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3.4 MetaMask

MetaMask is a popular cryptocurrency wallet and browser extension that enables

users to interact with Ethereum-based decentralized applications (DApps) and
manage their digital assets securely. It acts as a bridge between users and the
Ethereum blockchain, providing a user-friendly interface for accessing and
interacting with blockchain-based applications.

Here are some key features and aspects of MetaMask:

 Wallet Functionality: MetaMask serves as a digital wallet that allows users to

store, manage, and transfer Ethereum and other ERC-20 tokens. Users can
create multiple accounts within MetaMask and securely store their private
keys, which provide access to their funds.

 Browser Extension: MetaMask is primarily available as a browser extension

for popular web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, and Brave. Once
installed, the MetaMask extension adds a small icon to the browser's toolbar,
providing quick access to the wallet functionality.

 Ethereum Network Access: MetaMask connects users to the Ethereum

blockchain, enabling them to send and receive Ether (ETH) and interact with
Ethereum-based smart contracts and DApps. It supports both the Ethereum
mainnet and various test networks, such as Ropsten, Rinkeby, and Kovan,
allowing users to test and experiment with DApps in a development
environment.

 Seamless DApp Integration: MetaMask simplifies the process of interacting

with DApps. When a user visits a website that has integrated MetaMask, the
extension automatically detects the DApp and displays a popup window. This
window allows users to authorize transactions, sign messages, and interact
with smart contracts directly from their MetaMask wallet.

 Enhanced Security: MetaMask provides a secure environment for managing

digital assets. It stores private keys locally on the user's device and encrypts
them with a user-defined password. MetaMask also supports hardware
wallets like Ledger and Trezor, which offer additional layers of security by
keeping private keys offline.

 Custom Network Configuration: MetaMask allows users to configure custom

Ethereum networks, enabling them to connect to private or alternative
networks beyond the Ethereum mainnet and testnets. This feature is useful for
developers and organizations that operate on their own blockchain networks.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 15

Voting System using Blockchain

 Token Swapping and DeFi Integration: MetaMask integrates with

decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and platforms, allowing users to easily
swap tokens, participate in liquidity pools, lend and borrow assets, and access
other financial services directly from their wallet interface.

 Mobile App: In addition to the browser extension, MetaMask offers a mobile

app for iOS and Android devices. The mobile app provides similar wallet
functionality and allows users to access their accounts and interact with
DApps on the go.

 Open-Source and Community-driven: MetaMask is an open-source project,

which means that its source code is publicly available and can be reviewed,
audited, and contributed to by the developer community. This transparency
fosters trust and allows developers to verify the security and functionality of
the wallet. Furthermore, MetaMask has an active community that provides
support, documentation, and resources, making it easier for users and
developers to get started and resolve any issues they may encounter.

MetaMask has gained popularity among Ethereum users, developers, and enthusiasts
due to its user-friendly interface, secure wallet functionality, and seamless
integration with Ethereum-based DApps. It has become a fundamental tool for
anyone engaging with the Ethereum ecosystem, providing a convenient and secure
way to manage digital assets and interact with blockchain-based applications.

Snapshot 2 MetaMask Account Activity

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3.5 Ganache

Ganache (formerly known as TestRPC) is a local blockchain development tool that

provides developers with a simulated Ethereum environment for testing and
development purposes. It allows developers to create private, local blockchain
networks that behave similarly to the Ethereum mainnet or testnets, but with faster
block confirmations and no need for real Ether.

Here are some key features and characteristics of Ganache:

 Local Blockchain: Ganache creates a local Ethereum blockchain on your

development machine. This blockchain operates locally, meaning it runs on
your computer rather than being connected to the actual Ethereum network.
This provides developers with a sandboxed environment to test and debug
their decentralized applications (DApps) without incurring any costs or
affecting the live network.

 Fast Block Confirmations: Unlike the Ethereum mainnet or public testnets,

which have varying block confirmation times, Ganache provides near-
instantaneous block confirmations. This allows developers to quickly observe
the effects of their transactions, test different scenarios, and iterate on their
code more rapidly.

 Pre-funded Accounts: Ganache automatically generates a set of pre-funded

accounts for development purposes. These accounts come pre-loaded with
test Ether (fake Ether), which can be used to simulate transactions and
interactions with smart contracts on the local blockchain. Each account has a
private key associated with it, allowing developers to sign and authorize
transactions.

 Smart Contract Deployment: Ganache provides an interface for deploying

and interacting with smart contracts on the local blockchain. Developers can
compile their Solidity smart contracts using tools like Remix IDE or Truffle,
and then deploy and test them on Ganache. This allows for quick iteration
and debugging of smart contract logic and functionality.

 Network Customization: Ganache offers customization options for the local

blockchain network. Developers can configure parameters such as the gas
limit, block time, and network ID to mimic specific network conditions or
test different scenarios. This flexibility enables developers to simulate a wide
range of network conditions and edge cases during development and testing.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 17

Voting System using Blockchain

 Transaction Inspection and Debugging: Ganache provides a user-friendly

interface where developers can inspect and analyze individual transactions,
including their inputs, outputs, gas costs, and status. This makes it easier to
debug and trace issues in smart contracts and transaction execution.

 Integration with Development Tools: Ganache is compatible with popular

Ethereum development frameworks and tools such as Truffle, Remix IDE,
and web3.js. Developers can seamlessly integrate Ganache into their
development workflow, enabling them to write, compile, deploy, and test
their smart contracts using familiar tools and libraries.

 Network Forking: Ganache offers network forking capabilities, allowing

developers to create a fork of the Ethereum mainnet or any other public
network. This feature enables developers to test and debug their applications
against a snapshot of a specific Ethereum network's state, providing a realistic
testing environment.

 Testing and Automation: Ganache is often used in combination with testing

frameworks like Truffle and Hardhat to automate testing processes for smart
contracts. Developers can write comprehensive test suites and run them
against the local blockchain network, ensuring the correctness and reliability
of their contracts.

 User Interface: Ganache provides a user-friendly graphical user interface

(GUI) that displays essential information about the local blockchain network.
The GUI shows details such as the available accounts, their balances,
transaction history, and block information. It also allows developers to
configure network settings and manage accounts.

 Block Explorer: Ganache includes a built-in block explorer that allows

developers to inspect and explore the details of individual blocks and
transactions. The block explorer provides information such as the block
number, transaction hashes, gas usage, and more. This feature is helpful for
understanding the behavior and flow of transactions within the local
blockchain network.

Ganache is a valuable tool for Ethereum developers, as it allows them to rapidly

iterate, test, and debug their DApps and smart contracts in a controlled and efficient
environment. By providing a local blockchain with pre-funded accounts, fast block
confirmations, and comprehensive development features, Ganache significantly
streamlines the development process and helps ensure the robustness and reliability
of Ethereum-based applications.

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3.6 Remix IDE

Remix IDE is a web-based development environment that is used for writing, testing,
and deploying smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It is an integrated
development environment specifically designed for developing and testing smart
contracts for Ethereum-based decentralized applications (DApps). It provides a
comprehensive set of tools and features that aid developers in writing, debugging,
and deploying smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It is a powerful tool that
provides a user-friendly interface for developers to create and test smart contracts in
Solidity, the programming language used for Ethereum-based applications.

Remix IDE provides several features that make smart contract development easier,
including syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging tools. It also allows
developers to deploy their contracts to the Ethereum blockchain and interact with
them using a built-in web3 provider.

One of the main advantages of Remix IDE is that it is an open-source tool that is
constantly being updated and improved by the Ethereum community. This means
that developers can benefit from the latest features and bug fixes, ensuring that their
smart contracts are secure and reliable.

Here are some key features and components of Remix IDE:

 Code Editor: Remix IDE offers a code editor with syntax highlighting and
auto-completion for writing smart contracts using Solidity, the most widely
used programming language for Ethereum. It supports both Solidity versions
0.4.x and 0.5.x.

 Solidity Compiler: Remix includes a built-in Solidity compiler that allows

developers to compile their smart contracts directly within the IDE. The
compiler provides error messages, warnings, and detailed code analysis to
help developers identify and resolve issues.

 Debugger: Remix provides a powerful debugging tool that allows developers

to step through their smart contract code and inspect variables at each step.
This helps in identifying and fixing logical errors or unexpected behavior in
the contract.

 Deploy and Interact: Remix enables developers to deploy their smart

contracts onto various Ethereum networks, such as the mainnet or testnets
like Ropsten or Rinkeby. It also provides an interface to interact with
deployed contracts, allowing developers to test contract functionality and
execute transactions.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 19

Voting System using Blockchain

 Gas Estimation: Gas is the unit used to measure computational effort in

Ethereum. Remix includes a gas estimation feature that helps developers
estimate the gas cost of executing their smart contracts. This is crucial for
optimizing contract performance and managing transaction costs.

 Plugin System: Remix IDE supports a plugin system that allows developers
to extend its functionality. Developers can create and integrate their own
plugins to add custom features or integrate with external tools and services.

 Integration with Remix Libraries: Remix provides a collection of pre-built

libraries and contracts that developers can import and use in their projects.
These libraries cover various functionalities such as token standards (ERC20,
ERC721), multisig wallets, oracles, and more.

 Collaboration and Sharing: Remix IDE allows developers to collaborate on

projects by sharing their code and contracts with others. It supports real-time
collaboration, enabling multiple developers to work simultaneously on the
same project.

Remix IDE is a widely used and highly regarded development environment in the
Ethereum ecosystem. It provides an accessible and user-friendly interface, making it
suitable for both beginner and experienced developers to build, test, and deploy
smart contracts for Ethereum-based applications.

Snapshot 3 Remix IDE

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3.7 Polygon Test Net Mumbai

Polygon (formerly Matic Network) is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that
aims to improve transaction speed and reduce fees. The Polygon ecosystem includes
several components, including the Polygon mainnet, which is the live network used
for production applications, and several testnets used for development and testing.
Testnets are essential for developers to test their applications and smart contracts
before deploying them to the mainnet. Polygon provides several testnets, including
the Mumbai Testnet, which is the most popular testnet used for developing and
testing Polygon-based applications.

Developers can deploy their smart contracts and applications to the Mumbai Testnet
using the same tools and processes used for the Ethereum mainnet. The testnet can be
accessed through various developer tools, including Remix, Truffle, and Hardhat.
In summary, the Polygon Testnet provides a reliable and efficient environment for
developers to test and deploy their applications before deploying them to the
mainnet. The Mumbai Testnet is a fully functional Ethereum testnet that replicates
the mainnet environment, making it easy for developers to test their applications
under real-world conditions.

Here are some key details about Polygon Testnet Mumbai:

 Purpose: Testnets are alternate networks that mimic the mainnet (production
network) but are meant for testing and experimentation. Polygon Testnet
Mumbai allows developers to deploy and test their applications and smart
contracts before deploying them on the live Polygon mainnet or other
Ethereum networks.

 Compatibility: The Mumbai testnet is fully compatible with the Ethereum

Virtual Machine (EVM) and supports the Solidity programming language,
making it easy for developers familiar with Ethereum to transition to
Polygon. This compatibility ensures that DApps and smart contracts
developed on the Ethereum network can also be tested and deployed on the
Polygon network.

 Features: Mumbai testnet provides developers with access to various features

and functionalities offered by the Polygon network, such as low transaction
fees, fast block confirmations, and scalability. Developers can experiment
with the layer 2 scaling solutions provided by Polygon, such as Plasma and
Optimistic Rollups, to improve the performance and efficiency of their
applications.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 21

Voting System using Blockchain

 Faucets: To facilitate testing, Mumbai testnet provides faucet services where

developers can obtain test tokens (MATIC) for free. These tokens are used to
cover gas fees and simulate transactions on the network. Faucets are typically
web-based services that distribute a specific amount of test tokens to
individual developer accounts.

 Developer Tools: Polygon Testnet Mumbai is compatible with popular

Ethereum development tools and frameworks. Developers can use tools like
Remix IDE, Truffle, Hardhat, or web3.js to write, compile, deploy, and
interact with smart contracts on the Mumbai testnet.

 Community Support: Polygon has an active developer community that offers

support, documentation, and resources for developers working with the
Mumbai testnet. This includes developer forums, documentation, tutorials,
and sample projects that can help developers get started and resolve any
issues they may encounter.

By utilizing the Mumbai testnet, developers can thoroughly test their DApps and
smart contracts on the Polygon network, ensuring their stability, security, and
functionality before deploying them to the production environment. This helps in
identifying and resolving any potential issues or vulnerabilities and provides a
smoother user experience when the application is eventually deployed on the live
network.

Snapshot 4 Transaction Details on the Test Net

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Voting System using Blockchain

3.8 Netlify

Netlify is a cloud-based hosting and serverless backend platform that provides a

comprehensive solution for building, deploying, and managing modern web
applications. The platform allows developers to focus on building their applications
instead of worrying about infrastructure and server management.

 Features

Netlify provides a range of features that make it a popular choice for web
developers:

 Continuous Deployment: Netlify supports continuous deployment, which

means that every time you push code to your Git repository, Netlify
automatically builds and deploys your application. This makes it easy to
deploy changes quickly and efficiently, without the need for manual
deployment processes.

 Serverless Function: Netlify provides a serverless backend platform that

enables developers to build and deploy serverless functions. These functions
can be used to add dynamic functionality to your application, such as
handling form submissions, sending emails, and processing payments.

 CDN: Netlify provides a global content delivery network (CDN) that delivers
your application content to users from the server that is closest to them. This
ensures faster load times and a better user experience.

 Analytics and Monitoring: Netlify provides analytics and monitoring tools

that enable developers to track the performance of their applications,
including page load times, error rates, and traffic.

 Forms: Netlify provides a form handling service that enables developers to

collect form submissions from their applications. The service includes spam
protection, form validation, and email notifications.

 Identity: Netlify provides an authentication and identity service that enables

developers to add user authentication and authorization to their applications.
The service includes user management, password recovery, and social login.

 Pricing: Netlify offers a free plan that includes basic features such as
continuous deployment, serverless functions, and a global CDN. The paid
plans start at $19 per month and include additional features such as analytics
and monitoring, form handling, and identity services.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 23

Voting System using Blockchain

In short, Netlify is a powerful platform that enables developers to build and deploy
modern web applications quickly and efficiently. Its serverless backend platform,
CDN, analytics and monitoring tools, and form handling and identity services make
it a popular choice for web developers.

Multimedia databases have drastically increased in size over the past ten years,
particularly those kept up by the big web search engines like Google, Bing, and Ask.
These search engines' hypertext search techniques are strong enough to produce
results that are semantically relevant in response to text queries, but it is difficult to
develop semantically meaningful search techniques for multimedia data, such as
photos, video, and audio files.

Because of this lack of effectiveness, the majority of current research has focused on
content-based picture retrieval in particular. In a nutshell, the topic of content-based
image retrieval researches ways to use meaningful content extraction and comparison
algorithms for images to index, browse, and query huge image databases.

The choice to update the images on the web page is made based on the degree of
significance of the changes that have occurred in the images, and these content
extraction methods are also employed for web refreshing approaches involving
photos.

Hence, the primary topic of research in the field of content-based image retrieval is
the design and development of algorithms and methodologies that can effectively
retrieve image content. Because of this, many techniques for comparing photos to
one another rely on the extraction of colour or texture descriptors and the organising
of that data.

Because it can be translated into a three-dimensional coordinate system that closely

resembles human perception, colour information is more widely used. Yet, colour is
frequently inappropriate because there may be grayscale images with corresponding
colour counterparts. While there are techniques for describing texture and shape, they
cannot be used on complex images since they contain numerous minute elements.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 24

 Voting System using Blockchain

4. Problems and Solutions of developing Online Voting

System

Whether talking about traditional paper-based voting, voting via digital voting
machines, or an online voting system, several conditions need to be satisfied:

 Eligibility: Only legitimate voters should be able to take part in voting.

 Non- reusability: Each voter can vote only once.
 Privacy: No one except the voter can obtain information about the voter’s choice.
 Fairness: No one can obtain intermediate voting results.
 Soundness: Invalid ballots should be detected and not taken into account during
tallying.
 Completeness: All valid ballots should be tallied correctly.

Below is a brief overview of the solutions for satisfying these properties in online
voting systems.

4.1 Eligibility

The solution to the issue of eligibility is rather apparent. To take part in online
voting, voters need to identify themselves using a recognized identification system.
The identifiers of all legitimate voters need to be added to the list of participants. But
there are threats: Firstly, all modifications made to the participation list need to be
checked so that no illegitimate voters can be added, and secondly, the identification
system should be both trusted and secure so that a voter’s account cannot be stolen or
used by an intruder. Building such an identification system is a complex task in
itself. However, because this sort of system is necessary for a wide range of other
contexts, especially related to digital government services, researchers believe it is
best to use an existing identification system, and the question of creating one is
beyond the scope of work.

4.2 Non-reusability

At first, glance, implementing non-reusability may seem straightforward—when a

voter casts their vote, all that needs to be done is to place a mark in the participation
list and not allow them to vote a second time. But privacy needs to be taken into
consideration; thus, providing both non-reusability and voter anonymity is tricky.
Moreover, it may be necessary to allow the voter to re-vote, making the task even
more complex. A brief overview of non-reusability techniques will be provided
below in conjunction with the outline on implementing privacy.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 25

Voting System using Blockchain

4.3 Privacy

Privacy in the context of online voting means that no one except the voter knows
how a participant has voted. Achieving this property mainly relies on one (or more)
of the following techniques: blind signatures, homomorphic encryption, and mix-
networks. Blind signature is a method of signing data when the signer does not know
what they are signing. It is achieved by using a blinding function so that blinding and
signing functions are commutative – Blind(Sign(message)) = Sign(Blind(message)).
The requester blinds (applies blinding function to) their message and sends it for
signing. After obtaining a signature for a blinded message, they use their knowledge
of blinding parameters to derive a signature for an unblinded message. Blind
signatures mathematically prevent anyone except the requester from linking a
blinded message and a corresponding signature pair with an unblinded one.

4.4 Fairness

Fairness in terms of no one obtaining intermediate results is achieved

straightforwardly: Voters encrypt their choices before sending, and those choices are
decrypted at the end of the voting process. The critical thing to remember here is that
if someone owns a decryption key with access to encrypted decisions, they can
obtain intermediate results. This problem is solved by distributing the key among
several keyholders. A system where all the key holders are required for decryption is
unreliable—if one of the key holders does not participate, decryption cannot be
performed. Therefore, threshold schemes are used whereby a specific number of key
holders are required to perform decryption. There are two main approaches for
distributing the key: secret sharing, where a trusted dealer divides the generated key
into parts and distributes them among key holders (e.g., Shamir’s Secret Sharing
protocol); and distributed key generation, where no trusted dealer is needed, and all
parties contribute to the calculation of the key (for example, Pedersen’s Distributed
Key Generation protocol).

4.5 Soundness and Completeness

On the face of it, the completeness and soundness properties seem relatively
straightforward, but realizing them can be problematic depending on the protocol. If
ballots are decrypted one by one, it is easy to distinguish between valid and invalid
ones, but things become more complicated when it comes to homomorphic
encryption. As a single ballot is never decrypted, the decryption result will not show
if more than one option was chosen or if the poll was formed so that it was treated as
ten choices (or a million) at once. Thus, we need to prove that the encrypted data

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 26

Voting System using Blockchain

meets the properties of a valid ballot without compromising any information that can
help determine how the vote was cast. This task is solved by zero-knowledge proof.

By definition, this is a cryptographic method of proving a statement about the value

without disclosing the value itself. More specifically, range proofs demonstrate that a
specific value belongs to a particular set in such cases.

The properties described above are the bare minimum for any voting solution. But all
the technologies mentioned above are useless if there is no trust in the system itself. A
voting system needs to be fully verifiable to earn this trust, i.e., everyone involved can
ensure that the system complies with the stated properties. Ensuring verifiability can
be split into two tasks: personal, when the voter can verify that their ballot is correctly
recorded and tallied; and universal, when everyone can prove that the system as a
whole works precisely. This entails the inputs and outputs of the voting protocol stages
being published and proof of correct execution. For example, mix-networks rely on
proof of correct shuffling (a type of zero-knowledge proof), while proof of correct
decryption is also used in mix-networks and threshold decryption. The more processes
that are open to public scrutiny, the more verifiable the system is. However, online
voting makes extensive use of cryptography, and the more complex the cryptography,
the more obscure it is for most system users. It may take a considerable amount of time
to study the protocol and even more to identify any vulnerabilities or backdoors, and
even if the entire system is carefully researched, there is no guarantee that the same
code is used in real-time.

To address these issues, robust security measures must be implemented, such as

encryption, authentication mechanisms, and regular system audits. Additionally, strict
voter identification processes, including two-factor authentication and verification of
voter eligibility, can help maintain the integrity of the system. Transparent and tamper-
evident data storage and transmission protocols should also be employed to ensure the
privacy and accuracy of votes. Continuous monitoring and quick response to any
irregularities or breaches are vital to maintaining trust in the online voting system.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 27

Voting System using Blockchain

5. Security requirements

5.1 Anonymity

Throughout the polling process, the voting turnout must be secured from external
interpretation. Any correlation between registered votes and voter identities inside
the electoral structure shall be unknown.

5.2 Auditability & Accuracy

Accuracy, also called correctness, demands that the declared results correspond
precisely to the election results. It means that nobody can change the voting of other
citizens, that the final tally includes all legitimate votes, and that there is no
definitive tally of invalid ballots.

5.3 Democracy/Singularity

A “democratic” system is defined if only eligible voters can vote, and only a single
vote can be cast for each registered voter. Another function is that no one else should
be able to duplicate the vote.

5.4 Vote Privacy

After the vote is cast, no one should be in a position to attach the identity of a voter
with its vote. Computer secrecy is a fragile type of confidentiality, which means that
the voting relationship remains hidden for an extended period as long as the current
rate continues to change with computer power and new techniques.

5.5 Robustness and Integrity

This condition means that a reasonably large group of electors or representatives

cannot disrupt the election. It ensures that registered voters will abstain without
problems or encourage others to cast their legitimate votes for themselves. The
corruption of citizens and officials is prohibited from denying an election result by
arguing that some other member has not performed their portion correctly.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 28

Voting System using Blockchain

5.6 Lack of Evidence

While anonymous privacy ensures electoral fraud safeguards, no method can be

assured that votes are placed under bribery or election rigging in any way. This
question has its root from the start.

5.7 Transparency

It means that before the count is released, no one can find out the details. It avoids
acts such as manipulating late voters’ decisions by issuing a prediction or offering a
significant yet unfair benefit to certain persons or groups as to be the first to know.

5.8 Availability and Mobility

During the voting period, voting systems should always be available. Voting systems
should not limit the place of the vote.

5.9 Verifiable Participation/Authenticity

The criterion also referred to as desirability makes it possible to assess whether or

not a single voter engaged in the election. This condition must be fulfilled where
voting by voters becomes compulsory under the constitution (as is the case in some
countries such as Australia, Germany, Greece) or in a social context, where
abstention is deemed to be a disrespectful gesture (such as the small and medium-
sized elections for a delegated corporate board).

5.10 Accessibility and Reassurance

To ensure that everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to avail the correct
polling station and that polling station must be open and accessible for the voter.
Only qualified voters should be allowed to vote, and all ballots must be accurately
tallied to guarantee that elections are genuine.

SSGMCE, Shegaon (Session : 2022-23) 29

Voting System using Blockchain

5.11 Recoverability and Identification

Voting systems can track and restore voting information to prevent errors, delays,
and attacks.

5.12 Voters Verifiability

Verifiability means that processes exist for election auditing to ensure that it is done
correctly. Three separate segments are possible for this purpose: (a) uniform
verification or public verification that implies that anybody such as voters,
governments, and external auditors can test the election after the declaration of the
tally; (b) transparent verifiability against a poll, which is a weaker prerequisite for
each voter to verify whether their vote has been taken into account properly.

Figure 5.1 Security Requirements

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6. Future scope
The future scope for an e-voting system based on blockchain technology is promising,
as it offers enhanced security, transparency, and auditability. By leveraging the
decentralized and tamper-resistant nature of blockchain, each vote can be securely
recorded and verified, minimizing the risk of fraud and manipulation. This can
significantly improve the integrity of the voting process, increase trust among voters,
and enhance the overall credibility of elections. Additionally, blockchain-based e-
voting systems can provide transparency and auditability, allowing anyone to verify
the authenticity of votes and ensuring a fair and accountable electoral process.

Furthermore, blockchain-based e-voting systems can offer improved accessibility,

efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. By enabling remote voting through digital platforms
and mobile applications, individuals with mobility constraints, those residing in remote
areas, or overseas citizens can conveniently participate in the voting process. The
automation of result tabulation and elimination of manual vote counting can lead to
faster and more efficient elections, reducing administrative burdens and costs.
Additionally, the decentralized nature of blockchain-based systems makes them
resilient to DDoS attacks, ensuring accessibility and functionality during elections.
Overall, the future scope for e-voting systems based on blockchain technology holds
immense potential to transform the electoral process and strengthen democratic
practices.

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Voting System using Blockchain

7. Conclusion
In conclusion, the proposed e-voting system based on blockchain technology has the
potential to revolutionize the traditional voting process. The system provides numerous
benefits, including increased security, transparency, and accuracy. Utilizing blockchain
technology, the proposed e-voting system provides a tamper-proof and immutable
record of all transactions, ensuring that the results of the election are accurate and
trustworthy.
The use of smart contracts in the proposed system also automates the voting process,
reducing the chances of human error and manipulation. The system's transparency and
auditability features enable voters to verify their votes and ensure that their votes are
counted. The proposed system's decentralized and distributed nature makes it resistant
to attacks and manipulation, enhancing its security.
The evaluation of the proposed system will provide insights into its effectiveness and
feasibility. The evaluation results will help identify areas for improvement and future
development, ensuring that the proposed e-voting system continues to meet the
evolving needs of voters and election officials.

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Voting System using Blockchain

8. User Manual

Snapshot 5 Deployed Contract on Polygon Test Network

Snapshot 6 Home Page of Blockchain Voting System

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Voting System using Blockchain

Snapshot 7 Admin User Interface

Snapshot 8 Transaction Conformation through MetaMask

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Voting System using Blockchain

Snapshot 9 User Interface before start of an Election process

Snapshot 10 User Interface for Voting Process and Transaction Conformation

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Voting System using Blockchain

Snapshot 11 Transacation Conformation for Mobile Phone User

Snapshot 12 Transaction Failure in case of Double Voting

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Voting System using Blockchain

Snapshot 13 Admin User Interface during ongoing Election

Snapshot 14 Result Page for Voter

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Voting System using Blockchain

9. Publication details

Published Paper

Published Paper
DOI :- 10.48175/IJARSCT-9486

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Certificates of the authors: -

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Voting System using Blockchain

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Voting System using Blockchain

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