BlockVote

A blockchain-based voting application that ensures transparency, security, and immutability in the voting process. The system uses smart contracts on Ethereum to manage voter registration, vote casting, and result tallying.

Project Overview

BlockVote leverages decentralized technology to create a trustless voting system. Voters register on-chain, cast their votes via a web interface, and results are stored permanently on the blockchain. The system includes mechanisms for voter refunds and re-registration cycles.

Repository Structure

blockvote/
├── contracts/          # Solidity smart contracts
├── frontend/           # Web interface for voters and administrators
├── backend/            # Server-side API and business logic
├── scripts/            # Utility scripts for deployment and maintenance
├── artifacts/          # Hardhat build artifacts
├── cache/              # Hardhat compilation cache
├── hardhat.config.js   # Hardhat configuration file
├── package.json        # Node.js dependencies
├── deploy-info.json    # Contract deployment information
├── refund.py           # Python script for processing voter refunds
├── reregister.py       # Python script for voter re-registration
└── .gitignore          # Git ignore rules

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16 or later)
• npm or yarn
• Hardhat
• MetaMask or another Web3 wallet
• Python 3 (for refund and registration scripts)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/bipaulr/blockvote.git
   cd blockvote
   

2. Install Node.js dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Compile smart contracts:

   npx hardhat compile
   

4. Deploy contracts to a local or test network:

   npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js
   

5. Start the frontend application:

   cd frontend
   npm install
   npm start
   

Usage

1. Voter Registration
   Eligible voters register by connecting their wallet and following the registration process.

2. Casting Votes
   Registered voters can cast their vote for a candidate or proposal. Each wallet address is limited to one vote.

3. Results
   After the voting period ends, results can be viewed on the frontend. Results are stored on-chain and are publicly verifiable.

4. Refunds
   Voters may be eligible for refunds of any deposits. Run the refund script:

   python refund.py
   

5. Re-registration
   For recurring elections, run the re-registration script:

   python reregister.py
   

Smart Contracts

The core logic resides in the contracts/ directory. Key contracts likely include:

• Voting.sol – Main voting logic, including registration, vote casting, and tallying
• VoterRegistry.sol – Manages voter eligibility and registration records
• ElectionFactory.sol – Deploys new election instances if multiple elections are supported

Configuration

• Update hardhat.config.js with network settings for your preferred Ethereum network.
• deploy-info.json contains deployed contract addresses and ABIs used by the frontend and backend.

Scripts

• refund.py – Processes refunds for voters after an election concludes.
• reregister.py – Clears registration data or re-registers voters for a new election cycle.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Disclaimer

This software is provided for educational and demonstration purposes. It has not undergone formal security audits. Use in production environments at your own risk.