Blockchain-Based Digital Voting System for Student Elections

Objective:

To develop a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof digital voting platform for student elections, leveraging blockchain technology to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and enhance voter confidence.

Key Features:

Decentralized Ledger: Utilizes blockchain's immutable ledger to record votes, preventing unauthorized alterations.

Secure Voter Authentication: Employs cryptographic techniques and digital identities to verify voter eligibility and prevent fraud.

Anonymity Preservation: Ensures voter privacy through encryption and zero-knowledge proofs, maintaining the confidentiality of individual votes.

Real-Time Vote Counting: Enables immediate tallying of votes upon casting, providing quick and accurate results.

Auditability and Transparency: Allows authorized parties to independently verify and audit the election process, fostering trust among stakeholders.

Technologies Used:

Blockchain Platforms: Ethereum or Hyperledger for creating the decentralized ledger.

Smart Contracts: Solidity or other languages for automating election processes such as vote casting and tallying.

Cryptographic Algorithms: SHA-256 for hashing, AES for encryption, and zero-knowledge proofs for privacy.

Web3.js: For integrating blockchain functionalities with web interfaces.(ITM Conferences)

Digital Identity Systems: For authenticating and verifying voter identities.

How It Works:

Voter Registration: Eligible students register on the platform, creating a unique digital identity verified by the election authority.

Authentication: Voters authenticate themselves using secure methods such as OTPs or biometric data.

Voting: Voters cast their votes through a web interface, which are encrypted and recorded as transactions on the blockchain.(GeeksforGeeks)

Vote Tallying: Votes are automatically counted by smart contracts, providing real-time results.

Audit and Verification: Authorized parties can audit the blockchain to verify the election process and results.

Benefits:

Enhanced Security: Blockchain's cryptographic features ensure the integrity and security of votes.

Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces the need for physical infrastructure and manual labor, lowering election costs.

Increased Voter Participation: Facilitates remote voting, making it easier for students to participate.

Transparency and Trust: Immutable records and real-time results build confidence in the electoral process.

Scalability: The system can be scaled for larger elections, including state and national levels.

Real-World Implementations:

IIT Madras: Conducted India's first student council election using blockchain technology, developed by the Webops and Blockchain Club from the Centre for Innovation (CFI). The system was recognized in the India Book of Records and is being scaled for broader applications .(India Today)

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM): Implemented a blockchain-based e-voting system for student elections, utilizing Ethereum and smart contracts to ensure secure and transparent voting .(UiTM Institutional Repository)