Smart Online Voting System using Face Authentication

Abstract

The electoral process is the foundation of republic and governance. Within the last many decades, the election system has effectively experiencedanumberofvariations.Despitehaving thelargestmaturity rulegovernment intheworld, India still uses either secret ballot voting(SBV) or electronic voting machines(EVM), both of which are precious, labour ferocious, and extravagant. The current system simply checked relating documents,addingtheliabilityoffraudulentvotes. The main thing of this system is to give an online voting system that, by using a camera for face recognition and OTP generation, will help to reduce namer fraud in homemade voting systems andearlierduplicationsofonlinevoting.also,we\'re erectingasystemofremotevoting.tochooserswho are unfit to travel to their birthplace\'s polling place.Toguaranteetheresponsibilityofthedevice, we\'resupplyingsoftwarethathasmultiplelayersof verification, including face recognition or verification, OTP verification, and confirmation data. Only after being authenticated and matched with the handed namer database may a single namer access the system. The namer will be suitable to continue choosing their chosen seeker from the panel once the corresponding face has been matched with the data handed.

Introduction

1. Overview

Traditional voting systems (paper ballots, EVMs) face issues such as:

• High cost and logistics

• Fraud risks

• Difficulty in verifying remote or absentee voters

To overcome these, researchers propose secure online voting platforms using biometric authentication (face recognition) and multi-factor verification (OTP). The proposed system enhances voter authenticity, accessibility, and data security, allowing voters to cast ballots remotely with confidence.

2. Core Features of the Proposed System

Authentication Process

• Facial Recognition: Uses webcam input and algorithms like Haar Cascade and LBPH to match the voter's real-time image with stored data.

• OTP Verification: A one-time password is sent to the voter's registered email or mobile number. Only after both steps are verified can the user access the voting portal.

Technology Integration

• Combines biometric verification with blockchain for tamper-proof vote logging.

• Blockchain ensures:

  • Transparency

  • Data immutability

  • Privacy protection through mechanisms like secret sharing and ring signatures.

3. System Modules and Architecture

A. Authentication Module

• Manages user sessions and login

• Ensures only registered users access their dashboards

B. Admin Dashboard

• Admins manage elections, candidates, and voter registrations

• Includes real-time updates, result monitoring, and vote management

C. Voter Dashboard

• Voters view elections, select candidates, and cast their votes

• Interface is user-friendly and designed to prevent multiple votes

D. Voting Module

• Displays candidates for each election

• Ensures each user votes only once per election

• Votes are securely stored and confirmed

E. Election & Candidate Management

• Allows admins to create and schedule elections

• Assigns candidates to roles and makes them visible to voters

F. Result & Reporting Module

• Automatically calculates and displays results post-election

• Supports visualization (charts) and auditability

G. Database Management

• Built on MySQL with secure, structured storage of user data, votes, and election info

• Implements encryption and referential integrity

H. Code Architecture

• Modular design using HTML, PHP/Python backend

• Encourages code reuse and scalability

I. Future Integration

• Enhanced facial recognition via OpenCV & deep learning

• OTP via SMS/email APIs

• Full blockchain integration for immutable vote records

4. Methodology

The voting process follows a multi-step security model:

1. Registration: Voters submit personal info and a facial image

2. Login: Real-time face verification + OTP sent via SMS or email

3. Voting: Secure, one-time vote submission, recorded in the database with encryption

4. Audit Trail: Logs maintained for transparency and validation

Security Measures:

• HTTPS protocol for data transmission

• AES/SHA encryption

• Session management and activity logging

5. Related Research

• Multiple studies support the use of facial recognition and OTP for voter verification

• Deep learning improves recognition in challenging conditions

• Blockchain frameworks (e.g., PBFT, SHARVOT) enhance security, anonymity, and vote integrity

6. Benefits of the Proposed System

• Remote voting for individuals with mobility or location constraints

• Reduces fraud and identity theft

• Streamlined process with minimal human intervention

• Faster results, reduced operational cost

• Highly scalable and secure for national-level deployment

Conclusion

The design effectively demonstrates a secure and effective online voting system that uses facial recognition and OTP verification to authenticate choosers and maintain election integrity. By barring the need for physical polling stations and homemade verification, the system reduces functional costs, minimizes mortal error, and improves availability for individualities in remote areas or with mobility challenges. The integration of biometric and digital authentication ensures a stoner-friendly and transparent voting experience. This design provides a promising step toward contemporizing the electoral process and enhancing public trust in the system. unborn advancements may include blockchain for tamper-evidencevotestorehouse,advancedbiometric styles like point or iris recognition, AI- grounded anomaly discovery, and bettered availability through mobile apps, multilingual support, and voice- guided interfaces.Theseupgradescanfurtherstrengthensecurity, increase namer participation, and contribute to the elaboration of a digital republic.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Padma Priya A, Andrues K, Arun Prakash P, Kavin P. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.