Enhancing electoral integrity : A blockchain-based voting system for secure and transparent elections

Background: Rapidly evolving technology, and sensitivities related to security and integrity in electoral processes, create an overriding need to find fresh solutions that provide assurance with regard to robust voter identity validation and secure voting mechanisms. Conduct systems of elections have been, over time, increasingly vulnerable to threats; exploring blockchain technology’s possibility in offering tamper-resistant and transparent electoral processes is timely. It provides an in-depth security analysis concerning an improved Blockchain-based concept for conducting an election. Therefore, this research satisfies the critical need to securely validate the identity of voters and assures integrity and transparency into this electoral process through Blockchain. It will have a more robust methodology for voter identity validation, such as Digital Identity using Aadhaar Cards and Driving Licenses through hashing by BLAKE2b-512. The fingerprints of the voters—the unique fingerprint of each voter will be captured and verified—and Picture Rotation Pattern will be involved, whereby users are asked to rotate images at specified angles. It is envisaged that it will be a record of votes in a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof fashion on a blockchain-backed ledger, accompanied by a consensus mechanism guaranteeing integrity during the electoral process. Findings: The result of the security analysis of the proposed system on digital identity, biometric fingerprint, and picture rotation patterns for voter identity authentication is strong, hence reducing impersonation risks; blockchain technology provides a secure, transparent, tamper-resistant ledger for vote record-keeping, wherein its consensus mechanism makes the election process even better; the security and transparency of voters’ privacy are maintained. These would then be mitigated, having some vulnerability and threat expectations recommended, with an emphasis on compliance with the law, user education, and contingency plans. Touted as a blockchain-based election concept enhanced to be secure and transparent, it gives users faith in democracy.