Enhanced Network Technologies for Secure E-voting Architecture

Abstract

Electronic voting comprises many kinds of tasks which include e-voter registration, casting a vote, counting and transmission of votes to a tallying station. Transmission of votes from polling station to a tallying station require a backbone infrastructure or core network build from Fiber optic, 4G system, Wi-Fi technology and Wireless Local Area Network. The purpose of this paper was to establish the network technologies necessary for designing a secure e-voting architecture. E-voting implementation in developing countries is hindered by lack of Internet connectivity and implementation of multi-biometric technologies. An E-voting architecture based on a polling station setup involving Local Area Network using 3G/4G technology for data transfer was developed. This study was undertaken using mixed method design which included survey design, content analysis and Design Science Research. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample sixty-six election coordinators and their deputies and two Information Communication Technology Officers from two Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) regions of Kakamega and Bungoma. The study found that network technologies necessary for designing a secure e-voting architecture vary in their application. The finding of this study is significant to IEBC and to the government in enhancing use of E-voting to improve transparency.