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Security Settings Configuration Guide

This guide outlines the various ballot security configurations available within the Votin platform, helping administrators choose the appropriate settings based on the confidentiality and transparency needs of their election. Each security mode determines how results are displayed, whether users can view their own vote, and how anonymity is managed.

Public Security​

The Public configuration is the most transparent. Results are visible to both administrators and voters while the ballot is still open. Each user can view their own vote in decrypted form during the voting period. Anonymity is disabled: all users can see the votes of others. This setting is suitable for informal ballots or contexts where maximum openness is desired.

Private Security​

The Private configuration delays visibility of results until the ballot closes. Administrators and voters can only access results after the voting period ends. Voters may view their own decrypted vote only after the conclusion of the ballot. Anonymity is fully enforced—no voter can see another’s vote, and identities are not associated with submissions. This is ideal for formal elections requiring a high level of privacy and integrity.

Anonymous Security​

The Anonymous configuration ensures maximum privacy. Results are available only after the ballot closes, and voters are never able to view their vote in decrypted form. Complete anonymity is enforced: no one, not even the administrator, can associate votes with voter identities. This mode is recommended for ballots dealing with sensitive issues or when full voter confidentiality is legally or ethically necessary.

Custom Security​

The Custom configuration offers full flexibility, allowing administrators to define all parameters according to specific organizational needs. Administrators can choose whether results are visible during or after the voting period, whether voters can view their decrypted vote at any stage, and whether anonymity is partial or complete. This mode is ideal when predefined security presets do not align with procedural or regulatory requirements.

Selecting the correct security configuration is critical to ensuring trust in the voting process. Each mode is designed to support different levels of transparency and privacy, allowing Votin to adapt to a wide range of election scenarios.

The Role of Vote Decryption in Electronic and Blockchain-Based Voting Systems

Vote decryption plays a fundamental role in ensuring the transparency, integrity, and verifiability of electronic voting systems, particularly those integrated with blockchain technology. It is a crucial mechanism that supports democratic trust by enabling the secure processing and validation of cast votes.

What Is Vote Decryption?​

In electronic voting systems, votes are typically encrypted to protect voter privacy and to prevent tampering. Decryption is the process by which these encrypted votes are converted back into a readable format, allowing them to be counted and audited. This process must be performed securely to ensure that the content of each vote remains accurate while preserving the anonymity of voters.

Decryption in Blockchain-Based Voting Systems​

In systems that utilize blockchain technology, vote decryption is tightly linked to the principle of transparency. Blockchain provides a tamper-evident, distributed ledger where every transaction — including votes — is recorded immutably. Decryption allows for these transactions to be verified and tallied correctly, thereby ensuring the integrity of the election process.

For instance, the D-Voting project by the DEDIS lab at EPFL employs blockchain as a foundational infrastructure for secure and auditable elections. It combines advanced cryptographic algorithms with distributed technologies to enable public verifiability, where votes can be decrypted and audited without compromising voter anonymity. This architecture allows multiple independent entities to observe the election and guarantees that every ballot is accounted for precisely as cast.

Key Benefits of Vote Decryption​

  • Verifiability: Decryption allows voters and observers to confirm that all votes have been correctly recorded and counted.
  • Transparency: It increases the openness of the voting process, thereby enhancing public confidence.
  • Integrity: Decryption ensures that votes have not been tampered with during storage or transmission.
  • Auditability: It provides a technical means for third parties to audit the election process and validate its results.

Ensuring Voter Privacy​

While decryption is essential for public trust, it must not compromise voter anonymity. It is critical that decrypted results do not reveal the identity of individual voters. Techniques such as homomorphic encryption, mixnets, and zero-knowledge proofs are often employed to balance transparency with privacy. These ensure that while results can be verified and published, no traceable link can be established between a voter and their specific choice.

Conclusion​

Vote decryption is a cornerstone of secure electronic and blockchain-based voting systems. It ensures that votes are transparently and accurately processed, while maintaining strict privacy protections. When properly implemented, decryption enhances the credibility and legitimacy of elections, reinforcing the core democratic values of fairness and trust.