DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM USING

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

BY

IBE CLAUDIO ALESSANDRO

20191197362

A PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOFTWARE

ENGINEERING,
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY OWERRI.
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF
TECHNLOLOGY (B-TECH) IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
 CERTIFICATION

I certify that this research progressive web application for an enhanced waste management
system was carried out by Okoli Agozirim Praise (20191172532) in partial fulfillment for the
award of the degree of B-Tech in Software Engineering, of the Federal University of
Technology, Owerri.

_______________________ ___________________
Dr. Reginald Ogu. Date
(Project Supervisor)

_______________________ _____________________
Dr. C.O. Ikerionwu Date
(HOD, SOE)

_______________________ _____________________
Prof. U. F. Eze. Date
(Dean, SICT)

_____________________ _____________________
(External Examiner) Date
 DEDICATION

I would also like to dedicate this report to my parents Mr & Mrs Ibe, my siblings, and as well as
my supervisor and Course Advisor for their unending and tireless support, and to everyone else
who contributed towards making my final year project become a success.
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background

Electronic voting systems (e-voting) have emerged as a revolutionary method to conduct

elections, providing a digital alternative to traditional paper-based voting. These systems offer
the promise of increased efficiency, accessibility, and accuracy in the voting process. Blockchain
technology, known for its security, transparency, and immutability, has the potential to address
many of the challenges associated with e-voting, such as fraud, tampering, and lack of
transparency.

Blockchain-based e-voting leverages the decentralized nature of blockchain to ensure that each
vote is securely recorded and cannot be altered once submitted. This technology can provide a
verifiable and transparent voting process, enabling voters, candidates, and officials to have
confidence in the integrity of the election results.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Traditional voting systems, whether paper-based or electronic, are susceptible to various issues,
including voter fraud, vote tampering, and lack of transparency. These problems can undermine
the legitimacy of elections and erode public trust in democratic processes. Blockchain
technology, with its inherent security features, offers a promising solution to these challenges.
However, developing and implementing a blockchain-based e-voting system requires addressing
several technical, logistical, and regulatory hurdles.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objective of this research is to:
• Develop a secure and transparent electronic voting system using blockchain technology.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of blockchain in preventing electoral fraud and ensuring the
integrity of the voting process.
• Assess the user experience and acceptance of blockchain-based e-voting among voters
and election officials.

1.4 Research Questions

Blockchain Technology:
• How effective is blockchain technology in preventing electoral fraud and tampering?
• What are the key factors influencing the security and reliability of blockchain-based e-
voting systems?
• How does the implementation of blockchain impact the transparency and verifiability of
the voting process?
User Experience:
• What are the user experiences and satisfaction levels of voters and election officials using
blockchain-based e-voting?
 • How can blockchain-based e-voting systems be designed to be user-friendly and
accessible to all voters?
• What are the potential challenges and limitations faced by users, and how can they be
addressed?
Integration and Implementation:
• How can blockchain-based e-voting systems be integrated with existing electoral
processes and infrastructure?
• What are the cost implications of developing and maintaining a blockchain-based e-
voting system?
• What are the potential scalability issues of the system, and how can they be overcome to
accommodate large-scale elections?

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study aims to design, develop, and evaluate a blockchain-based electronic voting system.
The scope of the study includes the following key areas:
System Design and Development:
• Design a secure blockchain-based e-voting system to ensure the integrity and
transparency of the voting process.
• Develop a user-friendly interface for voters and election officials to interact with the
system.
• Ensure the system is scalable to handle large-scale elections.
Implementation:
• Implement the blockchain-based e-voting system in a controlled environment.
Evaluation and Testing:
• Conduct thorough testing of the blockchain-based e-voting system to ensure security,
reliability, and user-friendliness.
• Evaluate the system's effectiveness in preventing fraud and ensuring transparency.
• Assess user satisfaction and identify any challenges or limitations faced by voters and
election officials.

1.6 Limitations of the Study

Technical Issues:
• Blockchain Scalability: Ensuring the blockchain can handle a large number of votes in a
short period.
• Internet Connectivity: The system's reliance on stable internet connectivity, can be an
issue in areas with poor network coverage.
Security Concerns:
• Cybersecurity Threats: Ensuring the system is secure against hacking and other cyber
threats.
• Data Privacy: Protecting the privacy of voter data and ensuring that votes remain
anonymous.
User Adoption:
• Resistance to Change: Voters and election officials may be resistant to adopting new
technology, preferring traditional methods.
 • Training Requirements: Adequate training is necessary for users to effectively utilize the
new system.
Cost Implications:
• Initial Setup Costs: The initial costs of developing and implementing the blockchain-
based e-voting system.
• Maintenance and Upgrades: Ongoing maintenance and periodic upgrades to keep the
system secure and up-to-date.
Integration Challenges:
• Compatibility Issues: Integrating the new system with existing electoral infrastructure
and databases.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring the system complies with all relevant laws and
regulations governing elections.

1.7 Significance of the Study

• Enhanced Security and Transparency: By leveraging blockchain technology, the system
can provide a secure and transparent voting process, reducing the risk of fraud and
tampering.
• Improved Efficiency: The system can streamline the voting process, reducing
administrative workload and minimizing errors.
• Increased Voter Confidence: The transparency and verifiability of blockchain can
increase voter confidence in the integrity of the election results.
• Better Resource Management: The system can provide real-time data on voting, enabling
more informed decision-making and better allocation of resources.
• Scalability and Future-Proofing: The study can pave the way for future enhancements and
scalability, allowing the system to be adapted for larger-scale elections and new features.

1.8 Definition of Terms

• Blockchain Technology: A decentralized digital ledger that records transactions in a
secure and immutable manner.
• Electronic Voting (e-voting): A method of voting that uses electronic systems to cast and
count votes.
• Scalability: The ability of a system to handle increased loads or expand in capacity
without compromising performance.
• Transparency: The quality of being open and transparent, ensuring that the process and
results can be verified.
• User Interface (UI): The means by which the user interacts with a system, including
screens, menus, and commands.
 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual Framework
Blockchain technology for secure and transparent voting has gained significant attention
recently. Blockchain's decentralized nature makes it a practical and attractive solution for
addressing many of the challenges associated with traditional voting systems. This system aims
to develop and implement a blockchain-based e-voting system that can provide a secure,
transparent, and efficient voting process.

Key Concepts and Variables:

• Blockchain Technology: Use of a decentralized digital ledger to securely record votes.
• E-Voting System: An electronic system used to cast and count votes.
• User Experience: The overall experience of voters and election officials using the system.
• Security and Transparency: Measures of how well the system prevents fraud and ensures
the integrity of the voting process.

Relationships and Propositions

Blockchain Technology and Voting Security:
Proposition: Implementing blockchain technology will significantly improve the security and
transparency of the voting process.
User Experience and System Adoption:
Proposition: A user-friendly interface will lead to higher user satisfaction and greater adoption of
the e-voting system.
System Integration and Scalability:
Proposition: Effective integration with existing electoral processes will ensure the scalability and
efficiency of the system.

Assumptions
• The electoral institution has the necessary infrastructure to support blockchain technology
and online voting.
• Voters and election officials are willing to adopt and use the new system.
• The system will be secure and protect sensitive voter information.

Boundaries and Context

Scope: The study focuses on the implementation and evaluation of the blockchain-based e-voting
system within a single electoral institution.
Context: The study is conducted in an environment where traditional voting methods are
currently in use.

Methodology
Design and Development: Creating the blockchain-based e-voting system.
Implementation: Deploying the system in a controlled environment within the institution.
Evaluation: Assessing the system’s performance through user feedback, security tests, and
efficiency measurements.
Outcomes and Implications
Expected Outcomes: Improved security and transparency in voting, streamlined voting process,
and higher user satisfaction.
Implications: The study’s findings can inform future implementations of similar systems in other
electoral institutions, contributing to more secure and transparent elections.

2.2 Theoretical Framework

Key Theories and Concepts

Technology Acceptance Model (TAM):
• Perceived Usefulness: The degree to which users believe that using the system will
enhance their performance.
• Perceived Ease of Use: The degree to which users believe that using the system will be
free of effort.
• Application: TAM can be used to understand how voters and election officials perceive
the new blockchain-based e-voting system, influencing their acceptance and usage.

Diffusion of Innovations Theory:

• Innovation: The blockchain-based e-voting system as a new technology.
• Adoption Process: How the system is adopted by voters and election officials, including
stages such as knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation.
• Application: This theory helps explain the factors that influence the adoption and
diffusion of the new system within the electoral institution.

Information Systems Success Model:

• System Quality: The performance and reliability of the blockchain-based e-voting
system.
• Information Quality: The accuracy and relevance of the data generated by the system.
• Service Quality: The support and services provided to users of the system.
• User Satisfaction: The overall satisfaction of voters and election officials with the system.
• Application: This model can be used to evaluate the success of the system based on user
satisfaction and system performance.

Relationships and Propositions

Perceived Usefulness and User Acceptance:
• Proposition: Higher perceived usefulness of the blockchain-based e-voting system will
lead to greater user acceptance and adoption.
Perceived Ease of Use and User Satisfaction:
• Proposition: Greater perceived ease of use will result in higher user satisfaction and
increased adoption of the blockchain-based e-voting system.
System Quality and Voting Security:
• Proposition: Higher system quality will enhance the security and reliability of the voting
process, reducing the risk of fraud and tampering.
Information Quality and Transparency:

• Proposition: Improved information quality will increase the transparency of the voting
process, fostering greater trust among voters and election officials.

Service Quality and User Support:

• Proposition: High service quality will lead to better user support and higher satisfaction
levels among voters and election officials.

Blockchain Technology in Voting

Recent studies have explored the application of blockchain technology in voting systems.
Kevin(2018) advocated for the use of blockchain in voting stating that “One of the most valid
domains for a blockchain is for voting” . Similarly, Ayed (2017) emphasized blockchain's role in
creating immutable records, ensuring the integrity of the voting process.

Security and Transparency in E-Voting

The security and transparency of e-voting systems have been a major concern. Ribeiro et al.
(2020) discussed the vulnerabilities of traditional e-voting systems and proposed blockchain as a
solution to mitigate these risks. They noted that blockchain's decentralized nature and
cryptographic features can significantly reduce the likelihood of fraudulent activities.

User Experience and System Adoption

User experience is crucial for the successful adoption of new technologies. Davis (1989)
introduced the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which posits that perceived usefulness
and ease of use are key determinants of user acceptance. This model has been widely applied to
study the adoption of various information systems, including e-voting systems.

Integration and Scalability of E-Voting Systems

The integration and scalability of e-voting systems are critical for their widespread adoption.
Ryan et al. (2015) examined the challenges of integrating new voting technologies with existing
electoral processes. They identified compatibility issues and the need for scalable solutions as
key factors influencing the success of e-voting implementations.

Summary

The literature review highlights the potential of blockchain technology to address the security
and transparency challenges of traditional e-voting systems. Studies emphasize the importance of
user experience and system adoption, suggesting that perceived usefulness and ease of use are
critical for successful implementation. Additionally, the integration and scalability of e-voting
systems are essential for their widespread adoption, requiring careful consideration of
compatibility and performance issues.