Blockchain-based Voting System Powered by Post-Quantum Cryptography (BBVSP-PQC)

Abstract

Voting is a well-proven method of democratizing human societies and achieving consensus to avoid any conflicts. The unbiased trusted third parties are involved to conduct and administer the voting. However, in the past, various incidents of misconduct and biases were reported in the voting process. The blockchain eliminates the need for any trusted third party by using consensus algorithms and smart contracts, hence is the best fit to conduct voting as blockchain provides tamperproof, transparent, secure, and auditable voting solutions. Blockchain uses public-private key cryptography to ensure end-to-end encryption and uses hash functions and hashes to tamperproof voting ledgers. Quantum computing is going to be a major threat to the blockchain as current public-private key cryptography and hash functions are being used in almost all blockchains and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) belonging to the Pre-quantum cryptography era. This research article critically reviews the advancement and current state of blockchain-based online voting systems, their features, and challenges along with advancements in quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography. This research article proposes a system design of a voting system on the blockchain using post-quantum cryptography along with systematic and critical views and conclusions towards quantum-resistant blockchain for a future online voting system in the post-quantum cryptography era.