ON LINE VOTING SYSTEM Proposal

8/17/2019 ON LINE VOTING SYSTEM Proposal

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Declaration

This is to certify that the work being presented in the project entitled

“ONLINE VOTING SSTE!" s#b$itted by #ndersigned st#dent of second ear

%& IS in partial f#l'll$ent for award of deplo$a in co$p#ting andinfor$ation syste$s (%&IS) is a record of $y own work carried o#t by $e

#nder g#idance and s#per*ision of +rof, -i$. of the %epart$ent of I&T and

that this work has not s#b$itted elsewhere for award of any other degree,

Name of student: ____________________________________________

Registration Number: _____________________________________

Sign: __________________________________________

APPROVAL

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This project was done and presented by me before the panel concerned on the 2nd May 20! at

MA"A#$M$"T TRA%"%"# ADV%&OR' ($"T$R with my appro)al and that of my

s*per)isor Prof+ ,%M-

"ame of &t*dent. //////////////////////////////////////////////

Reistration "*mber. ////////////////////////////////////////////

&inat*re. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"ame &*per)isor. Professor JIM’

&inat*re. ////////////////////

D$D%(AT%O"

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All the wor1 done in comin *p with this system is dedicated to my family for bein withpart of

me in the whole process especially my dear dad and m*m who stood by me in all sit*ations e)en

at the times of financial need+

A(3"O4L$D#$M$"T

The satisfaction that accompanies that the s*ccessf*l completion of any tas1 wo*ld be

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incomplete witho*t the mention of people whose ceaseless cooperation made it possible5

whose constant *idance and enco*raement crown all efforts with s*ccess+

% am )ery ratef*l to my project s*per)isor Prof+ ,%M- for the *idance5 inspiration and

constr*cti)e s*estions that helpf*l me in the preparation of this project+ % won-t foret to also

mention my co*rse mates6 Abed &indani and &imon M*erwa el)is for their wonderf*l and

s1illf*l *idance in assistin me with the necessary s*pport to ens*re that my project is a s*ccess+

% also than1 my parents and family at lare for their moral and financial s*pport in f*ndin the

project to ens*re s*ccessf*l completion of the project+

Table of &ontents

Declaration,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i

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APPROVAL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ii

D$D%(AT%O",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, iii

A(3"O4L$D#$M$"T,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i*

A7&TRA(T,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, *ii

D$8%"%T%O" O8 T$RM&,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*iii

$9$(:T%V$ &:MMAR',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i3

+0 (;APT$R O"$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/

+ %"TROD:(T%O",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, /

++ 7A(3#RO:"D O8 &T:D',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/

+2 Problem definition,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2

+< &%#"%8%(A"($ O8 &T:D',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2

+= Objecti)es of the project,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4

+> Project j*stification,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4

+! &(OP$ O8 &T:D',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5

+? L%M%TAT%O" O8 &T:D',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5

2+0 (;APT$R T4O,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 6

2+ Literat*re Re)iew,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,6

2++ T;$ &$(:R%T' %&&:$& O8 O"L%"$ VOT%"#,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,7


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+0 (;APT$R 8%V$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 01

>+ %MPL$M$"TAT%O" O8 T;$ &'&T$M,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,01

>++ 8orm inp*t and Reports Desin,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,01

>++2 The loin form,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,01

>++< The )oter reistration form,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,02

>+2 &ystem Mod*les and (omponents,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,04

>+2+ &hortcomins with the &ystem,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,04

>+< Testin and )alidation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,04

!+0 (;AP$R &%9,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 05

!+ (O"(L:&%O",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 05

!+2 R$(OMM$"DAT%O"&,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 05

APP$"D%9,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,06

PRO,$(T &(;$D:L$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,06

PRO,$(T 7:D#$T,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 09

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R$8$R$"($&,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 07

A7&TRA(T

The word C)ote means to choose from a list5 to elect or to determine+ The main oal of )otin

Ein a scenario in)ol)in the st*dents co*ncil of a i)en schoolF is to come *p with leaders of the

people-s choice+

Most schools5 Mtac not an e@ception ha)e problems when it comes to )otin+ &ome of the

problems in)ol)ed incl*de ridin )otes d*rin election5 insec*re or inaccessible pollinstations5 inade*ate pollin materials and also ine@perienced personnel+

This online )otinpollin system see1s to address the abo)e iss*es+ %t sho*ld be noted that with

this system in place5 the *sers5 st*dents in this case shall be i)en ample time d*rin the )otin

period+ They shall also be trained on how to )ote online before the election time+

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D$8%"%T%O" O8 T$RM&

%$7( G %ndependent $lectoral and 7o*ndaries (ommission

OV& G Online Votin &ystem

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$9$(:T%V$ &:MMAR'

CO"L%"$ VOT%"# &'&T$M is an online )otin techni*e+ %n this system people who ha)e

indenties of Mtac and belon to the Mtac comm*nity and any se@ can i)e hisHher )ote online

witho*t oin to any physical pollin station+ There is a database which is maintained by the

%ndependent $lectoral and 7o*ndaries (ommission of Mtac E%$7(F in which all the names of

)oters with complete information is stored+

%n CO"L%"$ VOT%"# &'&T$M a )oter can *se hisHher )otin riht online witho*t any

diffic*lty+ ;eH&he has to be reistered first for himher to )ote+ Reistration is mainly done by the

system administrator for sec*rity reasons+ The system Administrator reisters the )oters on a

special site of the system )isited by him only by simply fillin a reistration form to reister

)oter+ &t*dents see1in reistration are e@pected to contact the system administrator to s*bmit

their details+ After the )alidity of them bein st*dents of Mtac has been confirmed by the system

administrator by comparin their details s*bmitted with those in e@istin databases s*ch as those

as the Reistrar of Persons5 the citiIen is then reistered by the %$7( as a )oter+

After reistration5 the )oter is assined a secret :sername and Password with which heshe can

*se to lo into the system and enjoy ser)ices pro)ided by the system s*ch as )otin5 chec1in

res*lts amon others+ %f in)alidwron details are s*bmitted5 then the citiIen is not reistered to

)ote+

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+0 (;APT$R O"$

+ %"TROD:(T%O"

++ 7A(3#RO:"D O8 &T:D'

The comm*nity of Mtac comprises of more than


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O)er the last few years5 there ha)e been a n*mber of election obser)ers who ha)e s*ested

electoral oraniIations sho*ld introd*ce electronic )otin at &tate and Local #o)ernment

election processes+ A eneral obser)ation is that as more b*siness is done *sin electronic

medi*ms5 it sho*ld not be diffic*lt to carry o*t )otin *sin electronic e*ipment rather than

t*rnin *p at the pollin place on )otin day to *se paper and pen+ The Online Votin &ystem

EOV&F *nder implementation mainly addresses the )otin phase+ $lectronic )otin *sin the

OV& sho*ld be cheaper than the present paper based arranement of 3enyan $lectoral

(ommission E%$7(F+ The phenomenal *se of the %nternet as a )ehicle for impro)in

comm*nication5 access to information and electronic commerce has led to the claim that the

%nternet co*ld be *sed as either a replacement to attendance )otin or as an additional )otin

option+

Thro*ho*t history5 election fra*d has occ*rred in many electoral processes from which

e@perience shows that the man*al )otin process is a major so*rce of s*ch )ices and )iolence in

many democratic co*ntries5 a case in point is the 3enyan $lectoral (ommission E%$7(F that has

on se)eral occasions failed to *pdate the 3enyan national )oters- reister in time before the

)otin date+ 8or instance5 the reister that was *sed for the M*ltiGParty elections in JJ2 was

*sed for the JJ? Presidential and Parliamentary elections5 the 2002 "ational elections5 200>

referend*m and 200? Presidential $lections which led to disp*tation+ This did not pre)ent

*nreistered )oters from ettin )oters- cards th*s ma1in riin easier and *nderminin the

credibility of elections+ The mechanism leadin to fra*d is manifested in reistration places by

corr*pt officials on local commissions who are in a position to iss*e )oter reistration data

capt*re forms to illeitimate indi)id*als5 st*ff ballot bo@es5 in)alidate reistration for opposition

)oters or e)en coerce )oters+ Domestic and international obser)ers reported serio*s irre*larities

in the 3enyan elections in December 200?6 they obser)ed that across the co*ntry5 election

officers denied possibly h*ndreds or tho*sands of reistered )oters the riht to )ote beca*se they

were alleedly not on the Voters- reister+ This is e)idently a res*lt of poor techni*es applied in

reistration5 *pdatin and displayin of )oters- reister by the %$7( and therefore there is need

to f*rther fine t*ne both the reisterin and )otin process to minimiIe incidences of Cmissin

names on the reisters and can)assin of )otes d*rin )otin+

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The Online )otin system EOV&F also 1nown as eG)otin is a term encompassin se)eral

different types of )otin embracin both electronic means of co*ntin )otes+ $lectronic )otin

technoloy can incl*de p*nched cards5 optical scan )otin systems and specialiIed )otin 1ios1s

Eincl*din self contained directGrecordin electronic )otin systems or DR$F+ %t can also in)ol)e

transmission of ballots and )otes )ia telephones5 pri)ate comp*ter networ1s5 or the internet+

Online )otin is an electronic way of choosin leaders )ia a web dri)en application+ The

ad)antae of online )otin o)er the common C*e*e method is that the )oters ha)e the choice

of )otin at their own free time and there is red*ced conestion+ %t also minimiIes on errors of

)ote co*ntin+ The indi)id*al )otes are s*bmitted in a database which can be *eried to find o*t

who of the aspirants for a i)en post has the hihest n*mber of )otes+

This system is eared towards increasin the )otin percentae in 3enya since it has been noted

that with the old )otin method Kthe B*e*e &ystem5 the )oter t*rno*t has been a wantin case+

4ith system in place also5 if hih sec*rity is applied5 cases of false )otes shall be red*ced+

4ith the CO"L%"$ VOT%"# &'&T$M5 a )oter can *se hisHher )otin riht online witho*t any

diffic*lty+ ;eH&he has to reister as a )oter first before bein a*thoriIed to )ote+ The reistration

sho*ld be done prior to the )otin date to enable data *pdate in the database+

;owe)er5 not j*st anybody can )ote+ 8or one to participate in the elections5 heshe m*st ha)e the

re*irements+ 8or instance5 heshe m*st be a reistered citiIen i+e+ m*st be and abo)e years

old+ As already stated5 the project NOnline Votin pro)ides means for fast and con)enient )otin

and access to this system is limited only to reistered )oters+

This project done by Mayinje "andasaba 4ilson5 a st*dent at Masinde M*liro :ni)ersity of

&cience and Technoloy is eared towards addressin problems encompassin man*al )otin

systems that ha)e been in place e)er since independence+

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%nternet )otin systems are appealin for se)eral reasons which incl*de6 People are ettin more

*sed to wor1 with comp*ters to do all sorts of thins5 namely sensiti)e operations s*ch as

shoppin and home ban1in and they allow people to )ote far from where they *s*ally li)e5

helpin to red*ce absenteeism rate+

+2 Problem definition

The )otinpollin process by reistered )oters in 3enya is )ery c*mbersome+ &o many cases of

missin data in the )oter reistration files ha)e been reported+ There are also scenarios where

*nreistered )oters floc1 in the pollin centers as CDead Voters to participate in the )otin

process+ $)en after )otin5 malicio*s cler1s and officersGinGchare of a pollin station end *p

playin with the res*lts fi*res+ This res*lts in the release of wron res*lts leadin to cases of

post election )iolence s*ch as the one that happened in early 200 in 3enya+

&*ch cases can be sol)ed by insistin on )oters e@ercisin that tas1 online *sin the OV&G

3$"'A+ The )oters can also )ote from anywhere aro*nd the lobe5 they don-t need to tra)el

bac1 to 3enya d*rin election time in case they are abroad+

+< &%#"%8%(A"($ O8 &T:D'

The main p*rposes of OV& incl*de.

+ Pro)ision of impro)ed )otin ser)ices to the )oters thro*h fast5 timely and

con)enient )otin+

2+ Red*ction of the costs inc*rred by the 3enyan $lectoral (ommission d*rin

)otin time in payin the )ery many cler1s employed for the sa1e of the s*ccess

of the man*al system+


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>+ Therefore cr*cial points that this EOV&F emphasiIes on are listed below+

Re*ire less n*mber of staff d*rin the election+

2 This system is a lot easier to independently moderate the elections and s*bse*ently

reinforce its transparency and fairness+

< Less capital5 less effort5 and less labor intensi)e5 as the primary cost and effort will foc*s

primarily on creatin5 manain5 and r*nnin a sec*re online portal+

4 %ncreased n*mber of )oters as indi)id*al will find it easier and more con)enient to )ote5

especially those abroad+

+= Objecti)es of the project

The specific objecti)es of the project incl*de.

Re)iewin the e@istinc*rrent )otin process or approach in 3enya6

2 (omin *p with an a*tomated )otin system in 3enya6

< %mplementin a an a*tomatedonline )otin system6

= Validatin the system to ens*re that only leible )oters are allowed to )ote+

+> Project j*stification

The O"L%"$ VOT%"# &'&T$MG3$"'A shall red*ce the time spend ma1in lon *e*es at

the pollin stations d*rin )otin+ %t shall also enable the )oters to )ote from any part of the

lobe as e@plained since this is an online application a)ailable on the internet+ (ases of )ote

misco*nts shall also be sol)ed since at the bac1end of this system resides a well de)eloped

database *sin M'&BL that can pro)ide the correct data once it-s correctly *eried+ &ince the

)otin process shall be open as early as possible5 the )oters shall ha)e ample time to decide when

and whom to )ote for+

+! &(OP$ O8 &T:D'

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%t is foc*sed on st*dyin the e@istin system of )otin in 3enya and to ma1e s*re that the

peoples )ote is co*nts5 for fairness in the electi)e positions+ This is also will prod*ce.

Less effort and less labor intensi)e5 as the primary cost and foc*s primary on creatin5

manain5 and r*nnin a sec*re web )otin portal+

2 %ncreasin n*mber of )oters as indi)id*als will find it easier and more con)enient to )ote5

especially those abroad+

+? L%M%TAT%O" O8 &T:D'

Time factor was the reatest barrier to the s*ccessf*l completion of this e@ercise since it had to

be done within the semester+ % also had financial constraints since all the acti)ities in)ol)ed were

selfGsponsored+

2+0 (;APT$R T4O

2+ Literat*re Re)iew

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All comp*ter scientists who ha)e done wor1 in or are interested in electronic )otin seem to

aree that online )otin does not meet the re*irements for p*blic elections and that the c*rrent

widelyGdeployed )otin systems need impro)ement+

Votin on the %nternet has disad)antaes based on the areas of secrecy and protection aainst

coercion andor )ote sellin+ %ts s*ch a tr*ly bad idea that there seems to be no credible

academic effort to deploy it at all+ The 3enyan #eneral elections of 200? bro*ht national

attention to problems with c*rrent methods of castin and co*ntin )otes in p*blic elections+

Most people belie)e that the c*rrent system sho*ld be chaned6 there is m*ch disareement on

how s*ch chanes sho*ld be made+

3enyans in the Diaspora ha)e be*n sinin a petition in a fresh attempt to force the electoral

body to allow them )ote online in the ne@t #eneral $lection+ They ad)ocate *sin the OV& since

it red*ces cases of *nco*nted5 *nmar1ed5 and spoiled ballots and the cost of tra)ellin to cited

pollin stations+ They are opposed to the *se of ;ih (ommissions and embassies as pollin

stations and embassy officials as ret*rnin officers+ The %$7( has in the past recommended that

3enyans abroad )ote at the embassies and cons*lates closest to them+ %n the :&5 for e@ample5

3enyans are e@pected to )ote in Los Aneles and "ew 'or1+ Their report e)en proposes a

framewor1 for a new )otin system with a decentraliIed5 mod*lar desin+

Other researchers ha)e done wor1 in electronic )otin6 while they may not e@plicitly mention

)otin from remote poll sites5 their wor1 is nonetheless rele)ant to any effort at desinin or

implementin a remote poll site )otin system+ Lorrie (ranor ac1nowledes the problems

inherent in each 1ind of )otin apparat*s5 b*t doesnt ma1e an o)ert recommendation on her site

for one technoloy o)er the rest+ &ome other academicians li1e Peter "e*mann foc*s on the

immensity of the problem one faces when tryin to desin and implement a tr*ly sec*re )otin

system+ They often remind *s of 3en Thompsons T*rin acceptance speech and the fact that we

really cant tr*st any code which we did not create o*rsel)es+ Therefore5 they tend to bee@tremely s*spicio*s of proprietary )otin machines and their ma1ers who insist that we sho*ld

Cj*st tr*st themQ+

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"e*mann i)es a list of s*estions for eneric )otin criteria which s*ests that a )otin

system sho*ld be so hard to tamper with and so resistant to fail*re that no commercial system is

li1ely to e)er meet the re*irements5 and de)elopin a s*itable c*stom system wo*ld be

e@tremely diffic*lt and prohibiti)ely e@pensi)e+

A )otin machine m*st prod*ce h*manGreadable hardcopy paper res*lts5 which can be )erified

by the )oter before the )ote is cast5 and man*ally reco*nted later if necessary+

Da)id (ha*m presents a )ery interestin scheme5 whereby )oters co*ld et receipts for their

)otes+ This receipt wo*ld allow them to 1now if their )otes were incl*ded in the final tally or

not5 and to pro)e that they )oted witho*t re)ealin any information abo*t how they )oted+ The

sec*rity of this scheme depends on )is*al cryptoraphy de)eloped by "aor and &hamir5 and on

)oters randomly choosin one of two pieces of paper+ Merc*ri and "e*mann ad)ocate the *se of

this techni*e in electronic )otin systems+

In the recent years: *oting e;#ip$ents which were widely adopted in $any

co#ntries $ay be di*ided into '*e types

/ Paper-based voting< The *oter gets a blank ballot and #se a pen or a

$arker to indicate he want to *ote for which candidate, =and>co#nted ballots

is a ti$e and labor cons#$ing process: b#t it is easy to $an#fact#re paper

ballots and the ballots can be retained for *erifying: this type is still the $ost

co$$on way to *ote,

0 Lever voting machine< Le*er $achine is pec#liar e;#ip$ent: and each

le*er is assigned for a corresponding candidate, The *oter p#lls the le*er to

poll for his fa*orite candidate, This kind of *oting $achine can co#nt #p the

ballots a#to$atically, ?eca#se its interface is not #ser>friendly eno#gh: gi*ing

so$e training to *oters is necessary,

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1 Direct recording electronic voting machine< This type: which is

abbre*iated to %@E: integrates with keyboardA to#ch screen: or b#ttons for

the *oter press to poll, So$e of the$ lay in *oting records and co#nting the

*otes is *ery ;#ickly, ?#t the other %@E witho#t keep *oting records are

do#bted abo#t its acc#racy,

2 Punch card< The *oter #ses $etallic hole>p#nch to p#nch a hole on the blank

ballot, It can co#nt *otes a#to$atically: b#t if the *oter.s perforation is

inco$plete: the res#lt is probably deter$ined wrongf#lly,

> Optical voting macine. After each )oter fills a circle correspond to their fa)orite

candidate on the blan1 ballot5 this machine selects the dar1est mar1 on each ballot for the

)ote then comp*tes the total res*lt+ This 1ind of machine co*nts *p ballots rapidly+

;owe)er5 if the )oter fills o)er the circle5 it will lead to the error res*lt of opticalGscan+

Recent years5 a considerable n*mber of co*ntries has adopted $G)otin for their official

elections+ These co*ntries incl*de6 America5 7eli*m5 ,apan and 7raIil+

2++ T;$ &$(:R%T' %&&:$& O8 O"L%"$ VOT%"#

Boreign e3perience re*ealed that they are often confronted by sec#rity iss#es while

the online *oting syste$ is r#nning, The origin of the sec#rity iss#es was d#e to not

only o#tsider Cs#ch as *oters and attackersD b#t also insider Cs#ch as syste$

de*elopers and ad$inistratorsD: e*en j#st beca#se the inheritance of so$e objects

in the so#rce code are #ns#itable, These errors ca#sed the *oting syste$ to crash,

The proposed sol#tions were correspondingly o#tlined to hold back these attacks,

Bor e3a$ple: to a*oid hacker $aking inc#rsion into the *oting syste$ *ia network:

we can design o#r syste$ to trans$it data witho#t network, nother e3a$ple is to

li$it *oter to inp#t partic#lar data: so that we can pre*ent the co$$and injection

fro$ r#nning

7


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20/37


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= Loss of reistration forms. &ome times5 reistration forms et lost after bein filled in

with )oters- details5 in most cases these are diffic*lt to followG*p and therefore many

remain *nreistered e)en tho*h they are )otin ae nationals and interested in

e@ercisin their riht to )ote+

> &hort time pro)ided to )iew the )oter reister. This is a )ery bi problem since not all

people ha)e free time d*rin the i)en short period of time to chec1 and *pdate the )oter

reister+

! Abo)e all5 a n*mber of )oters end *p bein loc1ed o*t from )otin+

;ence there is reat desire to red*ce official proced*re in the c*rrent )oter reistration process if

the eneral electoral process is to impro)e+


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LOGIN

=O!E +GE

?OFT FSONLINE SF++O@TBS &ONT&T FS VOTE @ESFLTS @EGISTE@

%OHNLO%

GISTE@E% VOTE@S

to handle data and is also portable between different browsers and platforms with little or

no alterations in code+ Macromedia Dreamwea)er is a prefer tool for desinin ;TML

paes and that is the tool *sed in comin *p with this OV& system+

< P(P coding'This is for ad)anced *ser who find P;P codes easy to wor1 with+

= )esting is done )ia 4AMP&$RV$R+

> -eb bro.sers. MoIilla 8irefo@5 #oole chrome5 Opera and %nternet $@plorer

! Reporting )ool i+e+ thro*h Data Report+

2 RAM and Printer+


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"ote that for one to e@perience the system administrator-s pri)ilee5 heshe m*st loin as the

system admin with the admnin-s password and *sername which is 1ept secretconfidential at all

costs

At the first )isit of the OV& site5 the *ser interacts with the system )ia the interface below+

! /irst page a user interacts .it0

;e or she is re*ired to be a reistered *ser of the system possessin a )alid *sername and

password+ These re*irements enable himher to lo in and carry o*t tas1s as per the pri)ilees

ranted to him or her+

/2


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On loin into the system5 the *ser is a*tomatically ta1en to the home pae shown below+ At the

home pae5 the *ser is able to briefly learn abo*t the OV&+

1 (ome page

$ach *ser once loed in5 it means yo* are a leitimate *ser of the system+ 'o* are therefore i)en

the pri)ilee to )isit the )otin pae where yo* are introd*ced to the aspirants for a i)en post

before castin yo*r )ote+ "ote that5 if yo* ha)e already )oted yo* cannot )ote aain+ The interface

for the )otin pae is as shown below+

/4


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2 3oting page

After )otin5 a )oter is allowed to chec1 the res*lts by )isitin the res*lts pae shown below+

4 Results page

/5


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The tas1 of )oter reistration is strictly preser)ed for the system administrator+ Therefore if yo* are

loed in as a mere *ser)oter5 yo* don-t ha)e this pri)ilee5 therefore5 the reistration pae lin1 is

disabled for yo*+

3oter registration page

The system administrator can )iew a list of reistered )oters by clic1in on the vie. registered

voters lin1+

/6


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5 Registered voters0

These are j*st b*t a few of the important sites of the OV&+ Others incl*de the about us6 contact

us6 online support s*stem6 do.nloads e+t+c+

F "o

Othername )archarE>F "o

/9


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Phone"o )archarE>F "o

$mail )archarE>0F "o

:sername )archarE>F "o

Password )archarE20F "o

:ser )archarE=0F "o Voter

This same table is *sed by the *ser to et the *sername and password for loin in+

1 3ote table'That holds records of the candidate5 and the )oter who casts a )ote in fa)or of

the candidate+ %ts primary 1ey is the id field which is also necessary d*rin )ote co*ntin+

The database is *eried to find o*t how many )oters casts their )otes for a i)en

contestant+

Table str*ct*re for table )ote

/7

/ield )*pe Null %efault

candidate )archarE2>F "o

)oter )archarE>F "o

id intEF "o


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=+0 (;APT$R 8O:R

=+ &'&T$M &P$(%8%(AT%O" A"D D$&%#"

=++ &pecifications

=+++ :ser Re*irements for the Proposed &ystem

The OV& sho*ld.

7e able to display all reistered )oters in the database to the &'&T$M ADM%"EsF as per

their access rihts and pri)ilees+

2 ;a)e a *serGfriendly interface and *ser *ides *nderstandable by people of a)erae

comp*ter s1ills+

< 7e rob*st eno*h so that *sers do not corr*pt it in the e)ent of )otin+

= 7e able to handle m*ltiple *sers at the same time and with the same efficiency5 this will

cater for the lare and e)er rowin pop*lation of )oters+

=++2 R$B:%R$M$"T &P$(%8%(AT%O"

A system sho*ld meet the followin re*irements for it to r*n the OV&.

08


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4eb browsers. MoIilla 8irefo@5 #oole chrome5 Opera and %nternet $@plorer5 M'&BL

D7M&5 4amp&er)er5 Macromedia Dreamwea)er 5 Prorammin lan*ae s*ch as ,AVA

and 9ML

2 4indows O& 9p5 4indows Vista or 4indows ?+ At least 2+0 #;I Processor speed5 At least

=0 #7 ;ard Dis1 (apacity and >2 RAM

=++< 8*nctional Re*irements

&ec*re storae and retrie)al of )oters- details from the database+

2 $nable sec*re loin of )oters5 that is to say nonG leitimate )oters sho*ld ne)er be

allowed to loin to the tool5 these incl*de the *nder aed and non nationals+

< Maintainin and manip*latin records in database thro*h f*nctions li1e edit5 delete5 and

)iew+

= Validate and )erify inp*t and o*tp*t data+

=+2 &'&T$M LO#%"

As already stated5 to loin into the system5 one has to ha)e a )alid *sername and password+ %t

has also been noted that there are absol*tely different pri)ilees for the )oter and the system

administrator+

At the first )isit of the system5 the )oteradmin interacts with the loin pae where heshe is

re*ired to pro)ide a )alid *sername and password in order to loin+ Once loed in5 then the

)oter*ser is allowed to perform acti)ities s*ch as )otin5 )iewin res*lts and )oter reistration

as per the pri)ilees+

0/


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>+0 (;APT$R 8%V$

>+ %MPL$M$"TAT%O" O8 T;$ &'&T$M

This chapter i)es an o)er)iew of the implementation and e@plains how *sers can na)iate

thro*h the newly de)eloped tool in order to *se it easily+

>++ 8orm inp*t and Reports Desin

The system was de)eloped as an interacti)e mechanism between the *ser at the interface and the

database *sin the webGbrowser+ This tool enables a *ser thro*h a web browser to interact with

the M'&BL database to enter5 edit5 )iew and retrie)e s*ch data as per the pri)ilees ranted+

These acti)ities were achie)ed *sin ,a)a ser)lets+ ;TML forms offer the best layo*t to enter

data5 chane and )iew the database+ These forms were also 1ept as short and simple as possible

for easy p*blic awareness on the *se of the tool5 some of the forms and report interfaces created

incl*de the followin.

>++2 The loin form

P$78S7 $O9 IN (7R7 &" 7N)7RIN9 "OR S7RN8M7 8N% P8SS-OR%

;ORR7;)$":

S7RN8M7: *

P8SS-OR% <

00


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Log in click to Reset entry

8ields mar1ed by S m*st be filled correctly+

This is where a new *ser)oter starts6 the indi)id*al is re*ired to pro)ide a *sername and

password+ 4hen this is pro)ided the system )alidates the *ser if the entered information tallies

with what is in the database+ ;eshe is then loed in otherwise the )oter*ser isn-t loed in+

>++< The )oter reistration form

Top of 8orm

+lease note that for one to be able to #se this online syste$ in *oting: yo# $#st be

a registered *oter, If heshe is not registered: please register hi$her by 'lling in

the for$ below<

8irst "ame. S

Other "ame. S

%D "*mber. S

Phone "*mber. S

$mail Address. S

:sername. S

Password. S

(onfirm Password. S

01


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CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT FORM RESET YOUR VALUES

7ottom of 8orm

This form is strictly preser)ed for the system administrator+ ;eshe is the only one with the

pri)ilees to access and *se this form+ The lin1 leadin to this pae is disabled for ordinary *sers+

>+2 &ystem Mod*les and (omponents

The system was implemented as a webGbased online )otin and modification sol*tion *sin

M'&BL ser)er5 ,a)a web ser)er5 %nternet e@plorer as the main browser and accessible on the

4orld 4ide 4eb6 other web browsers s*ch as MoIilla 8irefo@5 Opera and #oole (hrome are

also applicable+ The implementation and deployment was made s*ccessf*lly *sin "Gtier

architect*re+ 4eb sec*rity and accessibility to the system is ens*red

>+2+ &hortcomins with the &ystem

The &ystem implemented is hindered by the followin factors.

There are limited finance reso*rces to f*lly implement the system+

2 There is resistance from6 commissioners who belie)e their wor1 will all be done by the

tool5 and )oters who do not belie)e it is a sec*re way to o abo*t with )otin online+

< Power s*pply to the )ario*s areas of the co*ntry is not reliable and therefore may deter

)oters from *sin the OV& to )ote+

= ,*st li1e any other comp*ter based information system5 arbae in is arbae o*t5 that is

if wron information is entered to the OV&5 so will be the o*tp*t+

> There is a sinificant loss of h*man to*ch in the )otin process+

>+< Testin and )alidation

Traditional software testin proced*res were *sed for the webGbased OV& where testin too1

place thro*ho*t the de)elopment process+

02


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!+0 (;AP$R &%9

!+ (O"(L:&%O"

The main aspect behind OV& is that it enabled *s to brin o*t the new ideas that were s*stained

within *s for many for many days+ This project offers the )oters to cast easily thro*h internet+

Vote co*ntin is also made easy by the OV& since it-s j*st a matter of *eryin the database+

OV& is *sed by a n*mber of co*ntries today+ De)elopin a ood system is critical to the s*ccess

of the system to pre)ent system fail*res and to ain wide acceptance as the best method

a)ailable+ A ood OV& system re*ires ten characteristics which this system already has+ These

are.

Acc*racy (on)enience Reliability

Verifiability 8le@ibility (onsistency

Democracy Mobility &ocial Acceptance

Pri)acy

%n analyIin5 desinin5 implementin5 and maintainin standards5 we considered these

characteristics as the fo*ndation+ These standards were made national+ OV& will be an

ine@pensi)e5 and less time cons*min method once a system e@hibitin national standards and

the abo)e mentioned characteristics is implemented+

!+2 R$(OMM$"DAT%O"&

After my research and my finaliIation of this project5 % hihly recommend that the online )otin system

EOV&F ser)es to be the best to be p*t in *se especially in the 2 st cent*ry where h*man beins are

embracin technoloy and where there is malicio*s str*le for power by leaders all o)er the world+ This

str*le for power has res*lted in the *se of all approaches by the leaders in power to remain in their

positions at whate)er costs e)en if it means applyin )ote riin to win elections+

4ith this system in place5 a n*mber of s*ch problems shall be forotten+ % therefore recommend that the%$7( sho*ld p*t the OV& technoloy at practice to phase o*t some of the problems they o thro*h

d*rin man*al )otin+

04


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APP$"D%9

PRO,$(T &(;$D:L$

PRO,$(T 7:D#$T

05


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R$8$R$"($&

06


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Anderson (+ E200!F+ ;ow to Ri a Democracy. A Timeline of $lectronic Votin in the :nited

&tates+ The Independent. Retrie)ed "o)ember 25 200! from.

http.www+indypendent+orpU!0

7ellis5 M+ E200?F+ The History of Voting Machines. Retrie)ed "o)ember J5 200! from.

http.in)entors+abo*t+comlibrarywee1lyaa

Documents

ON LINE VOTING SYSTEM Proposal