SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VOTER ELIGIBILTY AND FACILITATING SECURE ELECTRONIC VOTING

A method for performing a determination of voter eligibility and facilitation of secure electronic voting is provided. The method includes authenticating a voter according to security setting and displaying a voting page for a jurisdiction corresponding to the voter's residence. The method then transmits to an adjudicating entity, voter information for determination of voter eligibility, and stores the voter information in a non-public blockchain. The method further includes determining whether the voter is eligible to vote based on the voter information stored in the non-public blockchain, generating a unique voter specific ballot for the voter in response to a determination that the voter is eligible to vote, and transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, a ballot selection received from the voter. The ballot selection is then stored on a public blockchain, and made available for release.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION (S)

This application claims priority benefit from Indian Application No. 202211051092, filed Sep. 7, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to providing a system and method for facilitating a secure vote casting. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to leveraging a system that pre-stores voter information for facilitating a secure vote casting.

BACKGROUND

The developments described in this section are known to the inventors. However, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the developments described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section, or that those developments are known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

For many years there has been growing distrust in U.S. election results at various levels, regional and national, due to the patchwork of laws and allegations of fraud. Accordingly, a secure infrastructure for facilitating secure and reliable voting information may be desired to remove concerns of legitimacy of voting results.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for performing a determination of voter eligibility and facilitation of secure electronic voting is provided. The method includes performing, using a processor and a memory: logging into a website of a secure voting system using voter's login information; authenticating the voter according to security setting; receiving, from the voter, a selection for performing a voting operation; displaying a voting page for a jurisdiction corresponding to the voter's residence; determining a certainty score for the voter using prestored information in the secure voting system; generating submission information for the voter; transmitting, to an adjudicating entity, voter information for determination of voter eligibility, the voter information including at least biographical information of the voter, the certainty score and the submission information; storing, by the adjudicating entity, the voter information in a non-public blockchain; determining, by the adjudicating entity, whether the voter is eligible to vote based on the voter information stored in the non-public blockchain; generating, by the adjudicating entity, a unique voter specific ballot for the voter in response to a determination that the voter is eligible to vote; transmitting, from the adjudicating entity and to the secure voting system, the unique voter specific ballot; receiving, from the voter, a ballot selection on the unique voter specific ballot; transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, the ballot selection; storing, by the adjudicating entity and on a public blockchain, the ballot selection; and releasing, by the adjudicating entity, the ballot selection stored on the public blockchain.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes receiving, from the voter, an input indicating a preferred contact method.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, contact information corresponding to the preferred is prestored in the secure voting system.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the voter is linked to the ballot selection by a globally unique identifier.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes transmitting, to the secure voting system, an automated message indicating that the voter is ineligible to vote, in response to a determination that the voter is ineligible to vote.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the submission information includes at least one of an identification of an organization though which the voter is requesting to cast a ballot, a time of submission, a preferred contact method, originating IP address, originating device identifier, an authenticating image and updated voter information.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the prestored information includes at least one of the voter's first name, last name, middle name, prefix, suffix, date of birth, driver license number, home address, social security number, tax payer identification number, and a photo identification.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the authenticating image includes at least one of a facial image or an iris scan image captured in performing the authenticating.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the photo identification includes a state or federal government issued identification.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the adjudicating entity sets a requisite certainty score to determine whether the voter is eligible to vote.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the voter is determined to be eligible to vote when data stored in the non-public blockchain indicates that the voter did not vote previously for a respective election.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the voter is determined to be eligible to vote when the certainty score is determined to be at or above a reference threshold.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the prestored information of the voter is stored by a third party organization to which the voter is a member.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the third party organization is a bank.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes determining, by the adjudicating party, whether the jurisdiction permits the voter to change the ballot selection that was provided previously.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes when the jurisdiction is determined to permit the voter to change the ballot selection, determining that the voter is eligible to vote again.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes in response to determining that the voter is eligible to vote again, increase a vote count for the voter on the public blockchain.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes generating, by the adjudicating entity, a subsequent unique voter specific ballot for the voter; transmitting, from the adjudicating entity and to the secure voting system, the subsequent unique voter specific ballot; receiving, from the voter, a subsequent ballot selection on the subsequent unique voter specific ballot; transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, the subsequent ballot selection; storing, by the adjudicating entity and on a public blockchain, a history of ballot selections, the history of ballot selections including the ballot selection and the subsequent ballot selection; and releasing, by the adjudicating entity, the subsequent ballot selection stored on the public blockchain.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for performing a determination of voter eligibility and facilitation of secure electronic voting is disclosed. The system includes a secure voting system including a processor, a memory and a communication circuit; and an adjudicating entity including a processor, a memory and a communication circuit. The at least one processor is configured to perform: logging into a website of the secure voting system using voter's login information; authenticating the voter according to security setting; receiving, from the voter, a selection for performing a voting operation; displaying a voting page for a jurisdiction corresponding to the voter's residence; determining a certainty score for the voter using prestored information in the secure voting system; generating submission information for the voter; transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, voter information for determination of voter eligibility, the voter information including at least biographical information of the voter, the certainty score and the submission information; storing, by the adjudicating entity, the voter information in a non-public blockchain; determining, by the adjudicating entity, whether the voter is eligible to vote based on the voter information stored in the non-public blockchain; generating, by the adjudicating entity, a unique voter specific ballot for the voter in response to a determination that the voter is eligible to vote; transmitting, from the adjudicating entity and to the secure voting system, the unique voter specific ballot; receiving, from the voter, a ballot selection on the unique voter specific ballot; transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, the ballot selection; storing, by the adjudicating entity and on a public blockchain, the ballot selection; and releasing, by the adjudicating entity, the ballot selection stored on the public blockchain.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program for performing a determination of voter eligibility and facilitation of secure electronic voting is disclosed. The computer program, when executed by a processor, causing a system including a secure voting system and an adjudicating entity to perform a process including logging into a website of the secure voting system using voter's login information; authenticating the voter according to security setting; receiving, from the voter, a selection for performing a voting operation; displaying a voting page for a jurisdiction corresponding to the voter's residence; determining a certainty score for the voter using prestored information in the secure voting system; generating submission information for the voter; transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, voter information for determination of voter eligibility, the voter information including at least biographical information of the voter, the certainty score and the submission information; storing, by the adjudicating entity, the voter information in a non-public blockchain; determining, by the adjudicating entity, whether the voter is eligible to vote based on the voter information stored in the non-public blockchain; generating, by the adjudicating entity, a unique voter specific ballot for the voter in response to a determination that the voter is eligible to vote; transmitting, from the adjudicating entity and to the secure voting system, the unique voter specific ballot; receiving, from the voter, a ballot selection on the unique voter specific ballot; transmitting, to the adjudicating entity, the ballot selection; storing, by the adjudicating entity and on a public blockchain, the ballot selection; and releasing, by the adjudicating entity, the ballot selection stored on the public blockchain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates a computer system for implementing a secure voting system (SVS) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

The system100is generally shown and may include a computer system102, which is generally indicated. The computer system102may include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system102to perform any one or more of the methods or computer-based functions disclosed herein, either alone or in combination with the other described devices. The computer system102may operate as a standalone device or may be connected to other systems or peripheral devices. For example, the computer system102may include, or be included within, any one or more computers, servers, systems, communication networks or cloud environment. Even further, the instructions may be operative in such cloud-based computing environment.

Furthermore, the computer system102may include any additional devices, components, parts, peripherals, hardware, software or any combination thereof which are commonly known and understood as being included with or within a computer system, such as, but not limited to, a network interface114and an output device116. The network interface114may include, without limitation, a communication circuit, a transmitter or a receiver. The output device116may be, but is not limited to, a speaker, an audio out, a video out, a remote control output, a printer, or any combination thereof.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented using a hardware computer system that executes software programs. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing and an operation mode having parallel processing capabilities. Virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionality as described herein, and a processor described herein may be used to support a virtual processing environment.

FIG.2illustrates an exemplary diagram of a network environment with a SVS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

A SVS202may be implemented with one or more computer systems similar to the computer system102as described with respect toFIG.1.

The SVS202may store one or more applications that can include executable instructions that, when executed by the SVS202, cause the SVS202to perform actions, such as to execute, transmit, receive, or otherwise process network messages, for example, and to perform other actions described and illustrated below with reference to the figures. The application(s) may be implemented as modules or components of other applications. Further, the application(s) can be implemented as operating system extensions, modules, plugins, or the like.

Even further, the application(s) may be operative in a cloud-based computing environment or other networking environments. The application(s) may be executed within or as virtual machine(s) or virtual server(s) that may be managed in a cloud-based computing environment. Also, the application(s), and even the SVS202itself, may be located in virtual server(s) running in a cloud-based computing environment rather than being tied to one or more specific physical network computing devices. Also, the application(s) may be running in one or more virtual machines (VMs) executing on the SVS202. Additionally, in one or more embodiments of this technology, virtual machine(s) running on the SVS202may be managed or supervised by a hypervisor.

In the network environment200ofFIG.2, the SVS202is coupled to a plurality of server devices204(1)-204(n) that hosts a plurality of databases206(1)-206(n), and also to a plurality of client devices208(1)-208(n) via communication network(s)210. According to exemplary aspects, databases206(1)-206(n) may be configured to store data that relates to distributed ledgers, blockchains, user account identifiers, biller account identifiers, and payment provider identifiers. A communication interface of the SVS202, such as the network interface114of the computer system102ofFIG.1, operatively couples and communicates between the SVS202, the server devices204(1)-204(n), and/or the client devices208(1)-208(n), which are all coupled together by the communication network(s)210, although other types and/or numbers of communication networks or systems with other types and/or numbers of connections and/or configurations to other devices and/or elements may also be used.

The communication network(s)210may be the same or similar to the network122as described with respect toFIG.1, although the SVS202, the server devices204(1)-204(n), and/or the client devices208(1)-208(n) may be coupled together via other topologies. Additionally, the network environment200may include other network devices such as one or more routers and/or switches, for example, which are well known in the art and thus will not be described herein.

The SVS202may be a standalone device or integrated with one or more other devices or apparatuses, such as one or more of the server devices204(1)-204(n), for example. In one particular example, the SVS202may be hosted by one of the server devices204(1)-204(n), and other arrangements are also possible. Moreover, one or more of the devices of the SVS202may be in the same or a different communication network including one or more public, private, or cloud networks, for example.

The server devices204(1)-204(n) may be hardware or software or may represent a system with multiple servers in a pool, which may include internal or external networks. The server devices204(1)-204(n) hosts the databases206(1)-206(n) that are configured to store metadata sets, data quality rules, and newly generated data.

The plurality of client devices208(1)-208(n) may also be the same or similar to the computer system102or the computer device120as described with respect toFIG.1, including any features or combination of features described with respect thereto. Client device in this context refers to any computing device that interfaces to communications network(s)210to obtain resources from one or more server devices204(1)-204(n) or other client devices208(1)-208(n).

According to exemplary embodiments, the client devices208(1)-208(n) in this example may include any type of computing device that can facilitate the implementation of the SVS202that may efficiently provide a platform for implementing a cloud native SVS module, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

One or more of the devices depicted in the network environment200, such as the SVS202, the server devices204(1)-204(n), or the client devices208(1)-208(n), for example, may be configured to operate as virtual instances on the same physical machine. For example, one or more of the SVS202, the server devices204(1)-204(n), or the client devices208(1)-208(n) may operate on the same physical device rather than as separate devices communicating through communication network(s)210. Additionally, there may be more or fewer SVS202, server devices204(1)-204(n), or client devices208(1)-208(n) than illustrated inFIG.2. According to exemplary embodiments, the SVS202may be configured to send code at run-time to remote server devices204(1)-204(n), but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG.3illustrates a system diagram for implementing a SVS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the system300may include a SVS302within which a group of API modules306is embedded, a server304, a database(s)312, a plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n), and a communication network310.

According to exemplary embodiments, the SVS302including the API modules306may be connected to the server304, and the database(s)312via the communication network310. Although there is only one database has been illustrated, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Any number of databases may be utilized. The SVS302may also be connected to the plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) via the communication network310, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to exemplary embodiment, the SVS302is described and shown inFIG.3as including the API modules306, although it may include other rules, policies, modules, databases, or applications, for example. According to exemplary embodiments, the database(s)312may be embedded within the SVS302. According to exemplary embodiments, the database(s)312may be configured to store configuration details data corresponding to a desired data to be fetched from one or more data sources, user information data etc., but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to exemplary embodiments, the API modules306may be configured to receive real-time feed of data or data at predetermined intervals from the plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) via the communication network310.

The API modules306may be configured to implement a user interface (UI) platform that is configured to enable SVS as a service for a desired data processing scheme. The UI platform may include an input interface layer and an output interface layer. The input interface layer may request preset input fields to be provided by a user in accordance with a selection of an automation template. The UI platform may receive user input, via the input interface layer, of configuration details data corresponding to a desired data to be fetched from one or more data sources. The user may specify, for example, data sources, parameters, destinations, rules, and the like. The UI platform may further fetch the desired data from said one or more data sources based on the configuration details data to be utilized for the desired data processing scheme, automatically implement a transformation algorithm on the desired data corresponding to the configuration details data and the desired data processing scheme to output a transformed data in a predefined format, and transmit, via the output interface layer, the transformed data to downstream applications or systems.

The plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) are illustrated as being in communication with the SVS302. In this regard, the plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) may be “clients” of the SVS302and are described herein as such. Nevertheless, it is to be known and understood that the plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) need not necessarily be “clients” of the SVS302, or any entity described in association therewith herein. Any additional or alternative relationship may exist between either or both of the plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) and the SVS302, or no relationship may exist.

The first client device308(1) may be, for example, a smart phone. Of course, the first client device308(1) may be any additional device described herein. The second client device308(n) may be, for example, a personal computer (PC). Of course, the second client device308(n) may also be any additional device described herein. According to exemplary embodiments, the server304may be the same or equivalent to the server device204as illustrated inFIG.2.

The process may be executed via the communication network310, which may comprise plural networks as described above. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the plurality of client devices308(1) . . .308(n) may communicate with the SVS302via broadband or cellular communication. Of course, these embodiments are merely exemplary and are not limiting or exhaustive.

The computing device301may be the same or similar to any one of the client devices208(1)-208(n) as described with respect toFIG.2, including any features or combination of features described with respect thereto. The SVS302may be the same or similar to the SVS202as described with respect toFIG.2, including any features or combination of features described with respect thereto.

FIG.4illustrates a method for validating voter eligibility and electronically casting a ballot in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Blockchain and other technologies may be utilized to increase trust in election results, as well as any event that require its legitimacy in voting results to be ensured. However, building a uniform infrastructure and machines necessary for collecting votes from eligible voters may be a large undertaking that may not be feasible. However, if an existing infrastructure may be leveraged, blockchain and other technologies may be leveraged to collect immutable votes for legitimizing voting results.

In operation401, a user or voter logs into a SVS after being authenticated in accordance with security settings. According to exemplary aspects, the SVS may leverage an existing infrastructure, such as a banking system that may already store personal information associated with the voter. In an example, authentication may include providing at least one of a username and password, biometric information (e.g., voice scan, iris scan, fingerprint scan, face scan and/or etc.), security token, and the like. During the authenticating process, an authentication image (e.g., facial image, iris scan, fingerprint scan) may be captured. According to exemplary aspects, level of security may be the same or different for the transaction being conducted via the existing infrastructure. For example, the existing infrastructure may require one or two-step authentication for performing normal transactions, but may require more for performing different transactions, such as voting for a government official.

In operation402, the user selects an option to submit a vote in an election. In an example, the user may specify the election for casting a ballot.

In operation403, the user provides preferred contact method. For example, the preferred contact method may specify phone call, email or text. Further, in another example, email address and phone number information may already be stored for the user in the existing infrastructure. However, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, such that the user may have an option to input the user's preferred contact information as well as the method.

In operation404, a certainty algorithm is executed for generating a certainty score for the voter using information already stored by the existing infrastructure. The certainty score may be provided as a percentage, a grade, a numerical value or the like. The information corresponding to the voter prestored by the existing infrastructure may be referred to as reference information. In an example, the reference information may include, without limitation, voter's first name, last name, suffix/prefix, driver license number, home address, social security number, taxpayer identification number and the like.

According to exemplary aspects the certainty algorithm may be a static algorithm that may be updated as necessary, or it may be an artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithm that may evolve as it processes more information.

Generally, AI or ML algorithms may be executed to perform data pattern detection, and to provide an output or render a decision based on the data pattern detection. More specifically, an output may be provided based on a historical pattern of data, such that with more data or more recent data, more accurate outputs and/or decisions may be provided or rendered. Accordingly, the ML or AI models may be constantly updated after a predetermined number of runs or iterations. According to exemplary aspects, machine learning may refer to computer algorithms that may improve automatically through use of data. Machine learning algorithm may build an initial model based on sample or training data, which may be iteratively improved upon as additional data are acquired.

More specifically, machine learning/artificial intelligence and pattern recognition may include supervised learning algorithms such as, for example, k-medoids analysis, regression analysis, decision tree analysis, random forest analysis, k-nearest neighbors analysis, logistic regression analysis, k-fold cross-validation analysis, balanced class weight analysis, and the like. In another exemplary embodiment, machine learning analytical techniques may include unsupervised learning algorithms such as, for example, Apriori analysis, K-means clustering analysis, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, machine learning analytical techniques may include reinforcement learning algorithms such as, for example, Markov Decision Process analysis, and the like.

In another exemplary embodiment, the ML or AI model may be based on a machine learning algorithm. The machine learning algorithm may include at least one from among a process and a set of rules to be followed by a computer in calculations and other problem-solving operations such as, for example, a linear regression algorithm, a logistic regression algorithm, a decision tree algorithm, and/or a Naive Bayes algorithm.

In another exemplary embodiment, the ML or AI model may include training models such as, for example, a machine learning model which is generated to be further trained on additional data. Once the training model has been sufficiently trained, the training model may be deployed onto various connected systems to be utilized. In another exemplary embodiment, the training model may be sufficiently trained when model assessment methods such as, for example, a holdout method, a K-fold-cross-validation method, and a bootstrap method determine that at least one of the training model's least squares error rate, true positive rate, true negative rate, false positive rate, and false negative rates are within predetermined ranges.

In another exemplary embodiment, the training model may be operable, i.e., actively utilized by an organization, while continuing to be trained using new data. In another exemplary embodiment, the ML or AI models may be generated using at least one from among an artificial neural network technique, a decision tree technique, a sup port vector machines technique, a Bayesian network technique, and a genetic algorithms technique.

In operation405, additional submission information, such as data required by the government entity along with tracking information, may be combined with the biographic information of the voter, and the certainty score as voter information for submission. For example, the addition submission information may include, without limitation, identity of the existing infrastructure (e.g., bank), submission time, originating IP address, and the like.

In operation406, the voter information is then encrypted and submitted to an adjudicating entity, such as a government (e.g., local, state, and/or national) entity. Although government entities are indicated as being the adjudicating entity, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, such that the adjudicating entity may be any entity that may hold an election, including a private organization or volunteer groups.

In operation407, the voter information is then received by the adjudicating entity and decrypted. The decrypted voter information is then saved in a non-public blockchain, such as a secure voter ID blockchain. The voter included in the voter information is then assigned a unique ID.

In operation408, the adjudicating entity access the non-public block chain and uses data included in the blockchain to make one or more determinations with respect to the voter to decide whether or not the voter is eligible to vote. For example, the determinations may include, without limitation, whether or not the voter is eligible to vote, whether or not the voter already voted online or via other avenue (e.g., in-person, mail-in ballot and the like), whether or not the adjudicating entity's certainty threshold has been met and the like. In an example, the adjudicating entity may set the certainty threshold.

Further, determination of whether the voter is eligible to vote may include consideration of whether the jurisdiction in which the voter is registered to vote allows the voter to change or update his or her vote during a voting period. For example, one state may allow the voter to change or update his or her vote up until end of the voting period, while another state may only allow for a single vote which may not be allowed to be changed once submitted. In an example, change of vote or submission of additional ballots during the voting period, if permitted by a respective jurisdiction, may be managed using a flag indicating additional voter ballots using a true/false value in a configuration utilized by a adjudicating entity.

In operation409, if the adjudicating entity decides that the voter is not eligible to vote, a canned message is returned to the voter via the contact method specified by the voter. The canned message may specify why the voter is not eligible to vote or why the vote submission by the voter is rendered invalid. The canned message may also encourage the voter to vote by alternative methods, if available, or specify an issue to correct. Further, the SVS may also receive the same message via an API, which may appear on the voting page.

In operation410, if the voter is determined to be eligible to vote or the vote submitted by the voter is deemed legitimate, user specific unique ballot is generated and pushed to the voter portal provided on the SVS via an API. Further, the voter ID blockchain may be generated to indicate that a valid ballot was received. Moreover, the voter ID blockchain may also indicate whether the voter is submitting a first ballot submission or is attempting to submit an additional ballot for updating or changing a previous ballot or vote submission.

In operation411, the official ballot is presented to the voter by the SVS. In an example, the official ballot may present various candidates for selection (e.g., Candidate A, Candidate B, Candidate C and Candidate D). In an example, the official ballot may be in an electronic form or in any other suitable form that is deemed to be acceptable by the adjudicating entity.

In operation412, voter selects one of the candidates by providing an input on the electronic official ballot. For example, a candidate may be selected by, without limitation, clicking on a virtual button, clicking on a radio button, typing a name of the selected candidate and the like.

In operation413, the electronic ballot is then encrypted and sent to the adjudicating entity over a network.

In operation414, the adjudicating entity records the encrypted ballot on the public blockchain and updates or generates a vote or ballot count. If the ballot is being casted for the first time, a vote or ballot count of 1 may be generated. If the ballot being casted is an additional ballot, then a previous vote or ballot count may be incremented by 1. In an example, the voter may be linked to cast ballot by a globally unique identifier (GUID). GUID may refer to a 128-bit number created by an operating system to uniquely identify specific components, hardware, software, files, user accounts, database entries and other items. Although GUID is disclosed as being utilized for casting the ballot, aspects of the disclosure are not limited thereto, such that other identifiers that securely identify a voter may be utilized.

Moreover, the adjudicating entity may record a vote count corresponding to the electronic ballot and its history on the public blockchain. In an example, the ballot data in the public blockchain includes an incrementing value for a ballot number field. Further, initial vote count or ballot number may include an initial value of 1 in the ballot number field.

If a jurisdiction allows for submission of additional voter ballots, additional ballot case submitted by a respective voter may increment the ballot number or count. For example, when a voter submits a ballot for candidate A after previously submitting a ballot for candidate B in the same election, the blockchain for the respective voter may indicate a vote count or ballot number of 2 and a history of ballot selections. The last vote or ballot selection recorded in the blockchain when the voting period ends will be recorded as the final vote or ballot selection that will be utilized for determining voting results. In other words, ballot or vote corresponding to the highest ballot count would be determined as the official ballot or vote during the final canvasing. However, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, such that a voter's ballot with the most recent timestamp may be used. All cast ballots may remain on the blockchain permanently even if a newer ballot is cast.

Moreover, according to exemplary aspects, if a jurisdiction allows for ballot changes (or submission of additional voter ballots for updating a previous vote), and a voter casts a physical ballot as well as an online ballot using the secure voting system ofFIG.4, the jurisdiction may leverage its existing systems to detect if voter case multiple ballots and which ballot to use in the final ballot count.

In operation415, a unique voter ID is sent to the voter for record keeping. However, aspects of the present disclosure not limited thereto, such that one-time voter ID may be utilized.

In operation416, all of the ballots collected may be canvased after the polls close and results may be released by the adjudicating entity. According to exemplary aspects, ballots may be cast electronically, in-person, via physical mail and the like.

In operation418, access may be provided to a publicly accessible read-only portal to view anonymous ballots post-election via Voter ID.

FIG.5illustrates basis requirements for casting ballot via a traditional system.

FIG.5provides that user must first register with a governmental entity, such as the state of Texas. In an example, the user may register at the secretary of state website or at a local department of motor vehicles (DMV) office. User may be required to verify that the voter's citizenship status, age at the time of election being registered for. And the like. User may also be required to provider user's personal information, such as first name, last name, middle name, prefix/suffix, date of birth, phone number, driver license information or state issued identification information, home address, social security number (whole or partial) and the like. Information required for registration may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may not be uniform.

Upon registration, the voter may be required to provide additional information. For example, if the voter is voting at a poll station in Texas, the voter may be required to provide one or more of identification documents before the user is allowed to cast a ballot. The identification documents may include Texas driver license, Texas identification card, Texas election certificate, Texas handgun license, U.S. military identification, U.S. Passport, U.S. citizenship certificate and the like.

On the other hand, if the voter is to cast an absentee ballot for the first time, the voter may be required to provide a copy of a photo identification, and a copy of one of the following including the voter's name: a utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck or a government document.

FIG.6illustrates information already stored by SVS and additional information generated by the SVS for submission to an adjudicating entity in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

In contrast to the system illustrated in inFIG.5,FIG.6illustrates that voter's identification or biographic information is already prestored by the SVS. In an example, the SVS may leverage existing infrastructure that may be utilized by a respective voter, such as a bank. The identification or biographic information of the voter may include, without limitation, voter's first name, last name, date of birth, driver license number or state issued identification card, home address, full social security number, an image of a federal/state issued photo identification card/document including voter's middle name, prefix/suffix, sex and the like. According to exemplary aspects, the federal/state issued photo identification card/document may include identifying documents that may be used to open an account at a financial institution (e.g., driver license, state issued identification card, U.S. passport, U.S. naturalization certificate and the like).

Further, prior to submission of voter information to the adjudicating entity for verifying eligibility of the respective voter, additional submission information may be generated by the SVS. In an example, the additional submission information may include, without limitation, name of the bank submitting the voter information, certainty score, submission time, preferred contact method, originating IP address and/or device identifier, potential image document upload (e.g., facial image captured by the bank, iris scan, image of one or more documents and the like). Moreover, any updates to the voter information acquired by the bank (e.g., divorced or widowed status), if relevant, may additionally be provided to the adjudicating entity. By providing additionally generated information along with previously verified voter information, fraudulent voter registration and/or ballots may be avoided.