kenya-voting-system

Kenya Voting System - Complete Setup Guide

Overview

This is a full-stack secure voting application with voter registration, authentication, voting, and real-time results.

Architecture

• Frontend: React with Tailwind CSS
• Backend: Node.js + Express
• Database: SQLite
• Authentication: JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
• Security: Bcrypt password hashing, secure PIN storage

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Backend Setup

1. Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• npm or yarn

Database Schema

The system automatically creates the following tables:

voters

• Stores voter registration information
• Includes encrypted PIN for authentication
• Tracks verification status

elections

• Stores election details (title, dates, status)
• Supports multiple simultaneous elections

candidates

• Links candidates to specific elections and positions
• Stores candidate details (name, party, biography)

votes

• Records all cast votes
• Prevents duplicate voting per position
• Generates unique vote hashes for audit trails

audit_log

• Tracks all system actions (registration, login, voting)
• Stores IP addresses and timestamps for security

Security Features

1. Authentication & Authorization

• JWT tokens with 24-hour expiration
• Secure password hashing with bcrypt (10 rounds)
• Token verification middleware on protected routes

2. Vote Integrity

• Unique vote hashes prevent tampering
• One vote per position per voter enforcement
• Database constraints prevent duplicate votes

3. Audit Trail

• All actions logged with timestamps
• IP address and user agent tracking
• Comprehensive audit log for investigations

4. Data Protection

• PINs are never stored in plain text
• SQL injection protection via parameterized queries
• CORS enabled for frontend-backend communication

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Testing the Application

1. Register a New Voter

1. Click "Register as New Voter"
2. Fill in all required fields
3. Create a PIN (minimum 4 digits)
4. Submit registration
5. Note your voter card number

2. Login

1. Use your National ID and PIN
2. Access the voting ballot

3. Cast Votes

1. Select candidates for each position
2. Green checkmarks indicate your selections
3. View live results at any time

4. View Results

1. Click "View Live Results"
2. See real-time vote counts and percentages
3. Results update immediately as votes are cast

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