Implementation of Blockchain Technology in E-Voting Using Smart Contract and ZK-SNARK

Jimmy; Kenny Rimba; Vincent; Ronsen Purba; Darwin

doi:10.34148/teknika.v14i3.1358

Authors

Jimmy Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Informatics, Universitas Mikroskil, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Kenny Rimba Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Informatics, Universitas Mikroskil, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Vincent Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Informatics, Universitas Mikroskil, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Ronsen Purba Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Informatics, Universitas Mikroskil, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Darwin Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Informatics, Universitas Mikroskil, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34148/teknika.v14i3.1358

Keywords:

Blockchain, E-Voting, Smart Contract, ZK-SNARK, Polygon

Abstract

E-voting systems are prone to challenges such as lack of transparency, risks of data manipulation, and dependence on centralized authorities, which can undermine trust in electoral processes. This research develops a blockchain-based e-voting system on the Polygon network, leveraging smart contracts and Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (ZK-SNARK) to enhance security, transparency, and voter anonymity. The study employs an application development approach, implementing a structured methodology with initialization, registration, voting, and tallying phases. Smart contracts automate voter verification, vote casting, and result tabulation, while ZK-SNARK ensures voters can cast ballots anonymously without revealing their identities. The system’s transparency and immutability are tested using PolygonScan, demonstrating effective prevention of manipulations like double voting through cryptographic credentials (nullifier, commitment, and nullifier hash) and Merkle Tree structures. Results indicate that the system provides a secure, verifiable, and decentralized framework for elections. This implementation offers a robust foundation for future e-voting systems, promoting trust and integrity in digital voting processes.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] M. Hajian Berenjestanaki, H. R. Barzegar, N. El Ioini, and C. Pahl, “Blockchain-Based E-Voting Systems: A Technology Review,” Electronics, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 17, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.3390/electronics13010017.

[2] R. Taş and Ö. Ö. Tanrıöver, “A Systematic Review of Challenges and Opportunities of Blockchain for E-Voting,” Symmetry, vol. 12, no. 8, p. 1328, Aug. 2020, doi: 10.3390/sym12081328.

[3] K. Yuan, P. Sang, S. Zhang, X. Chen, W. Yang, and C. Jia, “An electronic voting scheme based on homomorphic encryption and decentralization,” PeerJ Comput. Sci., vol. 9, p. e1649, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1649.

[4] F. Rabia, A. Sara, and G. Taoufiq, “ZkSNARKs and Ticket-Based E-Voting: A Blockchain System Proof of Concept,” Data Metadata, vol. 3, p. .341-.341, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.56294/dm2024.341.

[5] M.-V. Vladucu, Z. Dong, J. Medina, and R. Rojas-Cessa, “E-Voting Meets Blockchain: A Survey,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 23293–23308, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3253682.

[6] H. Yuhao and S. Peng, “A Decentralized Voting System on the Polygon Blockchain,” Procedia Comput. Sci., vol. 247, pp. 1304–1313, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2024.10.156.

[7] H. Taherdoost, “Smart Contracts in Blockchain Technology: A Critical Review,” Information, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 117, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.3390/info14020117.

[8] P. Baudier, G. Kondrateva, C. Ammi, and E. Seulliet, “Peace engineering: The contribution of blockchain systems to the e-voting process,” Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change, vol. 162, p. 120397, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120397.

[9] O. Oyelude and I. Olojede, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Electronic Voting Systems in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities,” Afr. J. Polit. Adm. Stud., vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 84–104, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.4314/ajpas.v16i2.5.

[10] S. D. K. Hu, H. N. Palit, and A. Handojo, “Implementasi Blockchain: Studi Kasus e-Voting”.

[11] B. Shrimali and H. B. Patel, “Blockchain state-of-the-art: architecture, use cases, consensus, challenges and opportunities,” J. King Saud Univ. - Comput. Inf. Sci., vol. 34, no. 9, pp. 6793–6807, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.jksuci.2021.08.005.

[12] K. Zīle and R. Strazdiņa, “Blockchain Use Cases and Their Feasibility,” Appl. Comput. Syst., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 12–20, May 2018, doi: 10.2478/acss-2018-0002.

[13] E. B. Kavun and T. Yalcin, “A Lightweight Implementation of Keccak Hash Function for Radio-Frequency Identification Applications,” in Radio Frequency Identification: Security and Privacy Issues, vol. 6370, S. B. Ors Yalcin, Ed., in Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 6370. , Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2010, pp. 258–269. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-16822-2_20.

[14] M. Sheikhi, R. Giustolisi, and C. Schuermann, “Receipt-Free Electronic Voting from zk-SNARK:,” in Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Security and Cryptography, Rome, Italy: SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications, 2023, pp. 254–266. doi: 10.5220/0012140000003555.

[15] K. Karantias, “SoK: A Taxonomy of Cryptocurrency Wallets,” 2020, 2020/868. Accessed: Apr. 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://eprint.iacr.org/2020/868

[16] M. Moniruzzaman, F. Chowdhury, and M. S. Ferdous, “Examining Usability Issues in Blockchain-Based Cryptocurrency Wallets,” in Cyber Security and Computer Science, vol. 325, T. Bhuiyan, Md. M. Rahman, and Md. A. Ali, Eds., in Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol. 325. , Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020, pp. 631–643. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-52856-0_50.