Introduction
The thesis begins by exploring the concept of democracy and its roots, examining both representative and direct democracies. It notes that while representative democracy prevails, with elected officials holding power on behalf of the public, there is increasing disengagement among citizens, particularly young people, due to a lack of trust in politicians. This dissatisfaction manifests in higher voter abstention rates and growing support for extreme political parties. Given this context, the author advocates for leveraging modern technology to make voting more accessible and engaging, potentially helping to restore public confidence.
In Belgium, which operates within a complex federal system, traditional voting methods include paper ballots and electronic voting machines. Internet voting (i-voting) is examined as a newer model that could modernize the electoral process, offering greater accessibility, particularly to citizens abroad or those facing mobility issues. The author acknowledges that, while promising, i-voting introduces unique risks and challenges. The thesis then outlines the structure and objectives of the research: to propose a blockchain-based i-voting model suitable for Belgium that ensures transparency, integrity, and security, meeting the stringent requirements of election integrity while adapting to the specific needs of the Belgian system.
Literature Review and State of the Art
The thesis provides an extensive review of existing voting systems worldwide. It categorizes them as paper-based voting, e-voting, and i-voting systems, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of each. E-voting, for instance, offers improved efficiency and accuracy over traditional paper-based methods but introduces vulnerabilities related to cybersecurity. i-Voting, as used in countries like Estonia, enables remote voting over the internet but raises concerns about voter authentication and ballot secrecy. The thesis references previous studies that discuss the critical security features for online voting, such as anonymity, verifiability, and integrity, along with receipt-freeness, which prevents voters from showing proof of how they voted, thus minimizing coercion or vote-buying risks.
In the realm of blockchain-based voting systems, the literature review identifies three primary cryptographic approaches: mixnet-based systems, blind-signature-based systems, and homomorphic encryption-based systems. The thesis evaluates six blockchain voting models, emphasizing their unique features and protocols, including zero-knowledge proofs and other techniques that secure ballot secrecy and integrity. However, scalability issues and the high computational demands of these systems remain barriers to their practical implementation on a large scale.
Background on Cryptography and Blockchain Technology
This section provides foundational knowledge in cryptography and blockchain technology. The thesis explains cryptographic techniques vital for secure voting, including:
- Hash functions for data integrity,
- RSA encryption for secure message exchanges,
- Blind signatures for enabling ballot anonymity, and
- Zero-Knowledge Proofs for secure verification without revealing sensitive information.
The blockchain component is discussed in depth, with a focus on Hyperledger Fabric, a permissioned blockchain framework. Unlike public blockchains like Bitcoin, Hyperledger Fabric is more suitable for an electoral system as it allows controlled access to the network and facilitates scalability by restricting transaction validation to authorized nodes. By structuring the voting network in this way, Hyperledger Fabric allows a balance of transparency (through a distributed ledger visible to authorized participants) and voter privacy.
Belgian Voting System Overview
The Belgian voting system is explained in detail, covering its multi-layered federal structure and election types, such as municipal, provincial, regional, and federal elections. Voting is mandatory for Belgian citizens over 18, although non-EU residents can vote in local elections under certain conditions. Elections follow a proportional representation system, where voters select a party list and may also indicate preferences among candidates. E-voting is already used in several Belgian municipalities, while other regions still rely on paper ballots.
This background helps underscore the complexity of implementing a national i-voting system, as Belgium’s regional differences in election infrastructure would require adaptation in each area. Additionally, since mandatory voting is a legal requirement, any blockchain-based i-voting system would need to ensure accessibility and usability for a diverse voter base.
Requirements for a Blockchain-Based Voting System
The author identifies critical requirements for a blockchain-based voting system, addressing both general and country-specific election needs. These include:
- Integrity: Ensuring that the voting process remains tamper-proof, with votes recorded exactly as cast.
- Eligibility and Authenticity: Only eligible voters should be allowed to cast ballots, confirmed through secure authentication methods.
- Anonymity: Maintaining voter privacy to prevent any linkage between voter identities and their selected ballots.
- Unreuseability: Each voter should only be able to vote once, with no chance of casting multiple ballots.
- Availability: The system should remain operational throughout the election period, even in the face of technical challenges.
- Verifiability: Allowing for public verifiability so that any citizen can independently verify the integrity of election results.
- Resistance to Coercion: The system should prevent voters from being able to prove their vote, which protects against external pressure or vote-buying.
The thesis emphasizes that blockchain technology, with its distributed ledger structure, meets several of these requirements, including integrity and verifiability. However, it also highlights some challenges, such as balancing transparency with voter privacy and achieving receipt-freeness.
Proposed Solution
The author proposes a blockchain-based voting model designed specifically for Belgium, built on Hyperledger Fabric. Key elements of this system include:
- Network Structure: The blockchain network would connect nodes operated by organizations chosen for their cybersecurity expertise. This structure would enhance the security and reliability of the voting process.
- Authentication via itsme®: The proposed solution leverages Belgium’s existing digital identification app, itsme®, for voter authentication. This app is widely used in Belgium for secure access to various online services, making it a familiar and convenient choice for voters.
- Cryptographic Protocols: The He and Su protocol, which incorporates blind signatures, is adapted for the blockchain environment. This ensures that votes remain confidential and untraceable to specific voters, thus preserving ballot secrecy.
- Dual Voting Options: Recognizing the need for accessibility, the system allows citizens to choose between online voting and traditional on-site voting. This flexibility could increase voter participation while accommodating those who prefer or require in-person voting.
Despite meeting many essential criteria, the model falls short in achieving full receipt-freeness, a limitation that would need to be addressed in further development stages.
Analysis, Security Considerations, and Future Work
The thesis analyzes the proposed solution against established election requirements, concluding that it meets most criteria, including integrity, authenticity, un-reusability, and auditability. However, the author points out limitations in receipt-freeness, a crucial element for preventing vote manipulation.
The security analysis highlights blockchain’s advantages in providing data immutability and resilience against tampering. The thesis also assesses potential risks associated with implementing blockchain-based voting, such as the system’s vulnerability to cyberattacks if nodes are compromised and the environmental impact due to the energy consumption associated with blockchain networks. Although Hyperledger Fabric is less energy-intensive than public blockchains like Bitcoin, the author stresses the importance of optimizing this aspect for large-scale elections.
The thesis concludes with a discussion on the future of blockchain-based voting in Belgium, considering the legal and societal implications of such a transition. The author suggests avenues for further research, such as exploring ways to enhance receipt-freeness and expanding the scalability of the blockchain infrastructure.
Conclusion
The author concludes that while blockchain technology offers significant potential for modernizing electoral systems by enhancing transparency, security, and voter trust, implementing such a system on a national scale in Belgium presents considerable challenges. A blockchain-based voting system could be a powerful tool for increasing democratic participation and engagement, provided that its limitations, particularly regarding scalability and receipt-freeness, are adequately addressed.
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