Electronic Voting System Blockchain Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electronic voting systems that utilize blockchain for managing voting results, voters and their votes become associated, compromising the secrecy of the ballot, as the blockchain discloses the connection between voters and their votes.

Innovation Solution

The system employs separate blockchains for authentication and voting data, using dummy transaction data to maintain voter anonymity by storing votes and dummy votes in the same blockchain, ensuring that actual votes are not identifiable and preventing alteration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single blockchain is used to store both authentication data and voting results, then the system structure is simple, but voters and their votes become associated, compromising ballot secrecy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidballot secrecy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the blockchain system into two separate blockchains: an authentication blockchain for storing voter authentication data and a voting blockchain for storing voting results. This segmentation prevents the association between voters and their votes while maintaining system functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ballot secrecy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If only actual voting data is stored in the blockchain, then data integrity is maintained, but voter anonymity is compromised as votes can be traced back to voters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidvoter anonymity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces voting participation tickets as an intermediary element that decouples the connection between voters and votes. These tickets are issued during authentication, anonymized, and then used to cast votes. The tickets serve as a mediator that preserves data integrity while protecting voter anonymity, as the voting blockchain stores only ticket-based votes without direct voter identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If authentication and voting are performed in a single system, then the process is streamlined, but the voting data can be altered or compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoting processVSAvoidvote security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the voting system into distinct authentication and voting modules operating on separate blockchains. This segmentation enhances security by isolating sensitive authentication data from voting data, preventing unauthorized access or alteration. The modular structure maintains ease of operation through clear process separation while significantly improving vote security and system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3457622B1Electronic voting system
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3457622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3457622B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3457622B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An electronic voting system including a terminal, authentication servers, and voting servers is provided. Each authentication server includes an authentication processor that authenticates a voter using authentication data including a first identifier associated with the voter and authentication information regarding the voter, and a first synchronizer that synchronizes a first blockchain including first transaction data indicating that the voter has been authenticated. Each voting server includes a voting processor that receives, from the terminal, voting data including a second identifier associated with a vote cast by the voter, and voting information indicating the vote. Each voting server further includes a second synchronizer that synchronizes a second blockchain including second transaction data and dummy transaction data with at least one other voting server. The terminal transmits the authentication data to each authentication server and transmits the voting data to at least one of the voting servers.