BLOCKCHAIN FOR BHARAT: SECURE & IMMUTABLE NRI VOTING SYSTEM

Abstract

AbstractThe growing need for secure and transparent electoral systems highlights the challenges faced by Non-Resident Indian (NRI) voters. Current rules requiring physical presence at polling stations limit participation, despite rising registrations. In our proposed blockchain-based voting framework, votes are transmitted through a secure virtual private network (VPN) and authenticated at the Election Commission of India (ECI) gateway node. After authentication, the votes are verified across multiple blockchain nodes using a consensus mechanism. Once validation is completed, the votes are permanently recorded in the distributed ledger, ensuring that they cannot be altered or removed. Smart contracts are employed to automate the vote-counting process, reducing manual intervention and minimizing the possibility of human error. The final election results are then made available through the ECI dashboard, enabling transparency and easy verification by authorized stakeholders.The proposed framework aims to improve accessibility for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) voters by enabling secure remote participation while preserving voter anonymity. By strengthening trust in the electoral system and encouraging wider participation, the solution supports improved electoral integrity. Overall, the integration of blockchain technology into the voting process contributes toward building a more transparent, secure, and inclusive democratic system in India.Keywords: Blockchain, NRI Voting, Distributed Ledger, Electoral Integrity, Consensus Mechanism, Immutability, Voter Anonymity.