Design and Implementation of a Blockchain E-Voting System for Student Union Elections

Abstract

Student union elections are an important avenue for nurturing democratic participation and leadership development within tertiary institutions. Despite their importance, many student elections are frequently challenged by issues such as limited transparency, voter impersonation, result manipulation, and low confidence in electoral outcomes (Adida, 2008; Schneier, 2016). Conventional paper-based voting methods, as well as centralized electronic voting systems, have proven inadequate in fully addressing these concerns. This study presents the design and implementation of a blockchain-based electronic voting system tailored specifically for student union elections. By leveraging the decentralized, transparent, and immutable nature of blockchain technology, the proposed system seeks to enhance election credibility, strengthen security, and ensure reliable vote recording (Nakamoto, 2008; Crosby et al., 2016). The Prototyping System Methodology was adopted to allow iterative development, testing, and refinement of the system based on observed requirements. Findings from the system implementation demonstrate that blockchain technology offers a dependable framework for conducting student elections, significantly reducing opportunities for manipulation while preserving voter anonymity and system integrity (Ayed, 2017; Kshetri & Voas, 2018). The study concludes that blockchain-based e-voting systems can improve trust, transparency, and accountability in student electoral processes.