"Using the Bitcoin Network to create a fair, secure, and transparent voting system that is decentralized"
The blockchain gives us the ability to conduct elections which are fair, transparent, and decentralized. Because the Bitcoin network is the most secure network in the world, it would be ideal for using its blockchain to record the election, although we would need to use the Layer 2 Lightning Network to ensure the system properly scales.
Designing a secure, privacy-preserving, and zero-trust voting system based on the Bitcoin network, leveraging the Lightning Network, zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), CoinJoin, and Merkle trees, while ensuring that no biometric data is stored by the government or the blockchain, requires a comprehensive and multi-layered approach. The system must prioritize voter privacy, security, and accessibility, while also being resistant to hacking and fraud. Below is a detailed explanation of how such a system could be designed and implemented.
The foundation of this voting system is the Bitcoin network, chosen for its unparalleled security, decentralization, and immutability. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism ensures that the network is highly resistant to tampering and censorship, making it an ideal backbone for a transparent and trustworthy voting system. However, Bitcoin’s native capabilities are limited in terms of scalability, privacy, and complex transaction types, so additional layers and protocols are necessary to address these limitations. The Lightning Network is used to enhance scalability, enabling fast and low-cost transactions, while ZKPs, CoinJoin, and Merkle trees are employed to ensure privacy, anonymity, and verifiability.
The system begins with voter registration, a critical phase that ensures only eligible voters can participate. During registration, voters use their smartphones to provide identification details, such as a government-issued ID, and choose their preferred authentication method: fingerprint reading, facial recognition, or a Social Security Number (SSN). Biometric data, such as fingerprints or facial recognition templates, are stored exclusively on the voter’s smartphone in the Secure Enclave (for iOS) or TrustZone (for Android), ensuring that this sensitive information never leaves the device. For voters using SSNs, the number is hashed using a one-way cryptographic hash function (e.g., SHA-256) and stored securely on the system’s server. The raw SSN is never stored or transmitted, protecting voter privacy.
Once registered, each voter is assigned a unique cryptographic identifier, such as a hash of their public key, which is used to link their identity to their vote without revealing personal information. This identifier is stored on the Bitcoin blockchain, ensuring transparency and preventing duplicate registrations. Voters also receive a unique QR code or cryptographic token, which is stored securely on their smartphone and can only be accessed using their chosen authentication method. This token serves as proof of registration and is required to cast a vote.
When it comes time to vote, the process is designed to be simple, secure, and private. Voters open the voting app on their smartphone and authenticate using their chosen method: fingerprint, facial recognition, or SSN. For biometric authentication, the smartphone’s Secure Enclave or TrustZone verifies the voter’s identity locally, ensuring that no biometric data is transmitted or stored externally. For SSN-based authentication, the voter enters their SSN, which is hashed and compared to the stored hash on the server. Once authenticated, the voter selects their preferred candidate or option on the app.
To ensure privacy, the vote is encrypted using a public key before being transmitted. The encryption ensures that only the designated tallying authority (or a decentralized network) can decrypt the vote during the tallying phase. Additionally, the voting app generates a zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) to prove that the vote is valid (e.g., the voter is registered and has not already voted) without revealing the vote itself or the voter’s identity. This ZKP is submitted along with the encrypted vote to the Bitcoin network via the Lightning Network, which enables fast and low-cost transactions.
The Lightning Network is a Layer 2 solution built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, designed to handle a high volume of transactions with minimal fees. By using the Lightning Network, the voting system can process millions of votes quickly and efficiently, without overloading the Bitcoin blockchain. Each vote is recorded as a transaction on the Lightning Network, with the encrypted vote and ZKP embedded in the transaction data. Once the voting period ends, the transactions are settled on the Bitcoin blockchain, ensuring immutability and transparency.
To further enhance privacy, the system incorporates CoinJoin, a Bitcoin protocol that allows multiple transactions to be combined into a single transaction, obfuscating the link between voters and their votes. This ensures that even if the blockchain is analyzed, it is virtually impossible to determine how individual voters cast their ballots. Additionally, Merkle trees are used to efficiently prove the inclusion of votes in the blockchain without revealing individual votes. The Merkle root of the votes is published on the blockchain, allowing anyone to verify that the votes were recorded correctly without accessing the underlying data.
The tallying process is conducted off-chain to accommodate the Bitcoin network’s limitations in handling complex computations. A trusted or decentralized group of nodes aggregates the votes from the blockchain, decrypts them using the designated private key, and computes the final result. The use of ZKPs ensures that only valid votes are counted, while the encrypted nature of the votes protects voter privacy. The final result is published on the Bitcoin blockchain, providing a transparent and immutable record of the election outcome.
To prevent double voting, each vote transaction includes a unique identifier, such as a nonce, which is checked against a registry of used IDs. Additionally, Bitcoin’s nLockTime feature is used to ensure that votes can only be cast during the designated voting period. These measures, combined with the system’s use of multi-signature wallets and biometric authentication, make it virtually impossible for a voter to cast more than one vote.
The system is designed with a zero-trust architecture, meaning that no single entity is trusted to ensure the integrity of the election. Instead, the system relies on cryptographic protocols, decentralized networks, and transparent processes to prevent fraud and manipulation. For example, the use of ZKPs ensures that votes are valid without revealing sensitive information, while the Bitcoin blockchain provides an immutable and publicly auditable record of all transactions. Additionally, the system’s reliance on biometric authentication and multi-signature wallets ensures that only registered voters can participate, and that their votes are securely recorded.
To address potential cybersecurity threats, the system incorporates several fail-safe mechanisms. For example, all communication between the smartphones and the server is encrypted using end-to-end encryption, preventing interception and tampering. The voting app also includes device integrity checks to detect and prevent unauthorized modifications, such as jailbreaking or rooting. Regular security audits and updates are conducted to identify and address vulnerabilities, ensuring that the system remains secure over time.
Voter education is another critical component of the system. Voters are provided with clear instructions on how to use the voting app, including how to authenticate using their chosen method and how to verify that their vote was recorded correctly. The system also includes a mechanism for voters to verify their votes using the unique transaction ID provided during confirmation, ensuring transparency and trust in the process.
This Bitcoin-based voting system, enhanced by the Lightning Network, ZKPs, CoinJoin, and Merkle trees, provides a secure, private, and transparent solution for conducting elections. By leveraging the strengths of the Bitcoin network and incorporating advanced cryptographic protocols, the system ensures that voter privacy is respected, fraud is prevented, and the integrity of the election is maintained. The use of biometric authentication and multi-signature wallets ensures that only registered voters can participate, while the zero-trust architecture and fail-safe mechanisms make the system highly resistant to hacking and manipulation. With careful design and implementation, this system has the potential to revolutionize the way elections are conducted, providing a model for secure and trustworthy voting in the digital age.