A Lightweight Blockchain Framework for Secure and Efficient Small-Scale E-Voting

Beyond cryptocurrencies, blockchain's ability to create permanent, tamper-proof records is finding increasing application in domains such as supply chain management, insurance, healthcare, e-governance, and voting. Recently, researchers have shown significant interest in how blockchain technology could improve the voting process. However, despite its potential, blockchain remains complex, and setting it up, even for a small-scale election, can be challenging. This paper proposes a lightweight blockchain-based e-voting framework with reduced computational overhead, making it more practical for small-scale elections. The objective of the framework is to enhance voter trust in the e-voting process. The framework was designed following a comprehensive comparative analysis of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) and consensus algorithms. A mock election was conducted to validate the proposed framework. Evaluation results indicated that the proposed framework outperformed existing solutions in terms of efficiency and ease of implementation.