Blockchain-Backed Eligibility and Ballot Recording for Electronic Voting
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is growing distrust in U.S. election results due to the patchwork of laws and allegations of fraud, necessitating a secure infrastructure for facilitating secure and reliable voting.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes a secure voting system with a processor and memory to authenticate voters, determine eligibility using prestored information, generate unique ballots, and store selections on blockchains to ensure secure electronic voting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional voting systems are used, then existing infrastructure can be maintained, but security and trust in election results deteriorate due to patchwork laws and fraud allegations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple voting system components (authentication, ballot generation, voting, and result tabulation) into a single integrated web-based platform. The system merges traditional voting infrastructure with blockchain technology to create a unified system that maintains reliability while managing complexity through consolidation of functions into one accessible interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary layer between the voting system and the public. This intermediary provides transparent, immutable recording of votes and system operations, thereby enhancing trust in election results without requiring complete restructuring of the underlying voting infrastructure.
2Reliability
If manual voter authentication and eligibility verification are used, then system complexity is reduced, but security and accuracy of voter verification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated authentication and eligibility verification systems that perform voter verification independently without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically checks voter credentials, determines eligibility based on prestored information, and generates unique ballots, thereby improving verification accuracy while managing complexity through automation rather than manual processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication and eligibility verification before allowing voters to cast ballots. By pre-storing voter information and conducting verification in advance, the system ensures accurate voter identification and eligibility determination, reducing the need for complex real-time manual verification processes.
3Reliability
If centralized vote storage is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but security and immutability of vote records deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary storage layer that provides distributed, immutable vote recording. Instead of relying on a single centralized database, the system uses blockchain's distributed ledger to store vote records, ensuring immutability and security while maintaining system accessibility through web interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the vote storage system into multiple distributed nodes across the blockchain network. This segmentation prevents single-point failures and ensures that no single entity can compromise all vote records, thereby improving immutability and security while managing complexity through distributed architecture.
4Measurement precision
If unique voter-specific ballots are generated, then vote accuracy and fraud prevention are improved, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent generates unique voter-specific ballots in advance during the authentication phase, before voters cast their votes. By preparing personalized ballots beforehand with pre-stored voter information and eligibility data, the system ensures vote accuracy and fraud prevention while reducing processing time during the actual voting moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically generates unique ballots for each voter based on their authentication credentials and eligibility status, without requiring manual intervention. This automated ballot generation improves accuracy by ensuring each voter receives the correct personalized ballot while minimizing processing time through algorithmic generation rather than manual preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing a determination of voter eligibility and facilitation of secure electronic voting is provided. The method includes authenticating a voter according to security setting and displaying a voting page for a jurisdiction corresponding to the voter's residence. The method then transmits to an adjudicating entity, voter information for determination of voter eligibility, and stores the voter information in a non-public blockchain. The method further includes determining whether the voter is eligible to vote based on the voter information stored in the non-public blockchain, generating a unique voter specific ballot for the voter in response to a determination that the voter is eligible to vote, and transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, a ballot selection received from the voter. The ballot selection is then stored on a public blockchain, and made available for release.