A Systematic Review of E-Voting Mechanisms with a Conceptual Framework for Trusted Mobile Applications

Ensuring trust, transparency, and security in electoral systems remains a critical challenge for modern democracies, as election integrity directly affects public confidence and institutional legitimacy. Traditional voting methods, including paper-based and electronic systems, continue to face issues such as fraud, manipulation, limited transparency, weak auditability, and vulnerability to cyber threats. These limitations often lead to disputes, delays, and reduced voter trust. Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution due to its decentralized, immutable, and cryptographically secure nature. By eliminating reliance on centralized authorities and ensuring tamper-resistant records, blockchain enhances the reliability and transparency of voting systems. This paper presents a systematic review of blockchain-based e-voting models, evaluating their effectiveness in addressing challenges such as security, scalability, privacy, and usability. It identifies key research gaps, including large-scale implementation, voter privacy, system efficiency, and interoperability. The study also proposes a conceptual framework integrating blockchain with mobile applications, using smart contracts, encryption, and consensus mechanisms to ensure secure, anonymous, and verifiable voting. This approach improves accessibility, especially in remote areas, promoting inclusive participation. While blockchain enhances election integrity, further advancements, regulatory support, and real-world validation are necessary for widespread adoption.