# Blockchain-Based E-Voting Mechanisms: A Survey and a Proposal +
## 2 Related Work
The paper highlights the unique characteristics of these blockchains and various cryptography techniques like hashing, which transforms any input data into a fixed mathematical algorithm which is non-reversible, which secures the blockchain by transforming input data into a fixed, non-reversible mathematical output. The importance of Merkle trees in summarizing transactional data and facilitating transaction verification is emphasized. The paper also explores public-key encryption, where private keys authenticate transactions. The paper then compares different consensus mechanisms focusing on aspects like identity management, energy efficiency, adversary tolerance, and scalability. The study by [PERSON] et al. [11] examines the global shift from traditional voting methods to electronic voting systems. The paper highlights the theoretical advantages of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), like ease of use, expedited vote counting, and improved accuracy. The paper also discusses the challenges and deficiencies these machines have faced, including issues in vote counting accuracy and transparency, which have spurred further research and development to enhance the reliability of EVMs. The paper offers a comprehensive analysis involving data from Scopus encompassing the United States, India, China, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The analysis of the data reveals how different nations have engaged with electronic voting, noting the trends in research interest and technological adoption. A finding of the study shows that since the 2000 presidential elections and the implementation of the Help America Vote Act, the U.S dominates the e-voting volume of publications, nearly doubling India's contributions. This work provides a comprehensive view of the e-voting landscape and highlights the advancements in e-voting while shedding light on the need for maintaining the integrity, security, and transparency of these systems in global context. The survey paper by [PERSON] et al. [12] explores the dynamics of various e-voting systems, dissecting them into three categories: centralized, centralized remote, and decentralized voting. The paper presents the defining characteristics of these voting types, and provides practical examples offering a perspective on their real-world applications. The paper examines secure voting practices and emphasizes identifying and addressing vulnerabilities existing in the tallying process. This is relevant in the evolution of electronic voting trends and the shift towards electronic voting using the Direct RecordingElectronic machines. The paper shifts its focus towards presenting a high-level vision of the future of e-voting and the challenges and opportunities inherent in implementing these systems, especially on a national scale. In addition, they implement the Open Vote network protocol (OV-net), a self-tallying decentralized, two-round voting scheme. The OV-net is implemented on the Ethereum blockchain using two smart contracts, with one handling the voting process and the other managing cryptographic functions. A thorough analysis is conducted on the implemented system, encompassing cost and timing analysis. The paper also outlines the limitations of the implementation which includes vulnerability to coercion and vote proving also the requirement of an Ethereum account and deposit. This requirement poses a significant barrier to entry, potentially limiting the accessibility of the system and barring wider adoption.