Securing E-Voting using Hyperledger Fabric: A Permissioned Blockchain Approach

Democracy, a system of governance founded on the principle of citizen representation, has become prevalent worldwide. Elections are crucial components of democratic systems, and it is essential to guarantee transparent, secure, and impartial election processes to maintain citizens’ trust in the government. However, the lack of transparency and security in democratic elections has raised concerns about their legitimacy and fairness. Creating a secure e-voting system that provides fairness, anonymity, transparency, and flexibility has been a significant challenge, despite the increasing adoption of technology worldwide. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) offer time and effort-saving benefits compared to traditional paper ballots but are susceptible to challenges that compromise the integrity of the electoral process. To address these challenges, we have proposed a Blockchain based E-voting system. This system provides a secure, decentralized platform where votes are recorded on an immutable ledger. It enables real-time vote counting, overcoming the time-consuming and error-prone nature of traditional methods. The proposed approach involves using Hyperledger Fabric and Chaincode to develop a scalable, maintainable, and cost-effective e-voting system within a customized private Blockchain network. This system adheres to the principles of Zero Knowledge Proof, ensuring accurate vote accounting and safeguarding the credibility and legitimacy of democratic elections.

I. Introduction

Elections are essential in a democratic country such as India, where its residents elect their leader. Elections keep a nation functioning reasonably as they allow individuals the option to choose their government. There is a vast mistrust between the voters and the authorities conducting the elections because of instances where many fraudulent activities have occurred during the Election process. Also, elections are a long, tiring, and cumbersome process which causes people to avoid them altogether. Thus, we need to design a voting process that is secure, reliable, hassle-free, and easily accessible to the people.