DESC:Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for voting. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for electronic voting.

Background of the invention:
[0002] In a traditional voting system, votes were cast by a means of a ballot paper. A voter is checked before the electoral roll. The voter is allocated with the ballot paper. The voter cast votes by marking the ballot paper with a rubber stamp on a symbol corresponding to a desired candidate of his choice inside a compartment in a polling station. The voter then folds the ballot paper and inserts it in a common ballot box, which is kept in a full view of an on-duty officer and polling agents. The ballot paper voting system proved to be very time consuming and insecure. In addition, booth capturing were happening frequently, where the members of the particular party forcefully interfere and occupy the polling booth, thereby refraining voters to cast their votes according to their choices.
[0003] Presently, in some countries like India, electronic voting machines (EVM) are introduced for voting. In an electronic voting machine system, the voter presses a button on a ballot unit against a name and a symbol of a candidate of the voter's choice. When the button is pressed by the voter, an indication against the name and symbol of that candidate is provided to the voter and, the vote is recorded. This system is also time consuming and not able to stop fake voting. Further, in the electronic voting machines (EVM), a control unit is with a presiding officer of a booth. In the voting compartment, soon after casting the vote, the presiding officer operates a button thereafter of the control unit. The electronic voting machines (EVM) do not accepts any vote after a vote by a candidate. But, in case, if presiding officer forgets to operate the button, then it may leads to fraud voting. There may be scope to the presiding officer for encouraging fraud voting.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need of a method for electronic voting, which can overcome the limitations of the existing voting methods.

Objects of the invention

[0005] Object of the present invention is to provide a method for electronic voting.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for electronic voting, which reduces fraudulent voting.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for electronic voting, which allows voting from everywhere in the world, thereby saving time and money.

[0008] One more object of the present invention is to provide a method for electronic voting, which reduces booth capturing.

[0009] Further object of the present invention is to provide a method for electronic voting, which does not require separate preparation of a voter’s list every time when the election is announced.

[0010] Another one object of the present invention is to provide a method for electronic voting, which is economical and simple in operation.

Summary of the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a method for electronic voting. The method is having steps of storing voter’s details along with the respective UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) number in a server. In the present embodiment, the UIDAI number is an Aadhaar number. The server is connected with a voting unit. In the present embodiment the, voting unit is an electronic device such as a personal computer, a mobile, a kiosk or the like. Also, the voting unit connected with a biometric recognition unit. The biometric recognition unit is a finger print recognition unit or a face recognition unit or an iris recognition unit or the like. Further, the UIDAI number is entered in the voting unit. Upon entering the UIDAI number, the voter is requested to provide his/her biometric details using the biometric recognition unit. Also, the entered biometric details are matched with the biometric details stored in the server with respect to the UIDAI number. The candidate list is displayed to the voter upon matching the biometric details for casting the vote, further upon casting the vote, the UIDAI number is locked for further voting for specific period.

Brief Description of drawings

[0012] Figure1showsa flowchart of a method for electronic voting in accordance with the present invention; and
[0013] Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a system for electronic voting in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0014] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0015] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0016] The present invention provides a method for electronic voting. The method reduces fraudulent voting. Also, the method allows voting from everywhere in the world, thereby saving time and money. Further, the method reduces booth capturing. Furthermore, the method does not require separate preparation of voters list every time when the election is announced. Moreover, the method is economical and simple in operation.

[0017] Referring now to figure 1, a flowchart of a method 100 for electronic voting in accordance with the present invention is illustrated.

[0018] The method 100 starts at step 10.

[0019] At step 20, a voter’s details along with the respective UIDAI number is stored in a server 210 (figure 2). In the present embodiment, the UIDAI number is an Aadhaar number of the voter.

[0020] At step 30, a server 210 is connected with a voting unit 220(figure 2). In present invention, the voting unit 220is an electronic device, such as a personal computer, a mobile, a kiosk or the like. The voting unit 220 is connected with the server 210 through an internet.

[0021] At step 40, the voting unit 220 is connected with a biometric recognition unit 230 (figure 2). In the present embodiment, the biometric recognition unit 230 is a finger print recognition unit, a face recognition unit, an iris recognition unit or the like.

[0022] At step 50, the UIDAI number is entered in the voting unit 220 for casting the vote to the desired candidate.

[0023] At step 60, upon entering the UIDAI number, the voter is requested to provide his biometric details using the biometric recognition unit 230. Once the UIDAI number is being entered in the voting unit 220, the voter is recognized by his fingerprint, face, or an iris.

[0024] At step 70, the entered biometric details of the voter are matched with the biometric details stored in the server 210 with respect to the UIDAI number. Upon matching the details of the voter with pre stored details in the server 210, the voter is allowed to cast a vote.

[0025] At step 80, the candidate list is displayed to the voter upon matching the biometric details for casting the vote. Further, upon casting the vote, the UIDAI number is locked for further voting, thereby reduces fraudulent voting.

[0026] At step 90, the vote is saved in the server 210. The server 210 is accessible to an authority responsible for conducting elections.

[0027] The method ends at step 100.

[0028] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system 200 for electronic voting. The system 200 will be explained in conjunction with the method 100 for the sake of brevity. The system 200 comprising a server 210, a voting unit 220 and a biometric recognition unit 230.

[0029] Referring to figure 2, the server 210 is connected to the voting unit 220. The voter’s details with their respective UIDAI number are stored in the server 210. In the present embodiment, the UIDAI number is the aadhaar number of the voter. The voting unit 220 is connected with the server 210 through an internet. Also, the voting unit 220 is an electronic device, such as a personal computer, a mobile, a kiosk or the like.

[0030] Further, the voting unit 220 is connected with the biometric recognition unit 230. In the present embodiment, the biometric recognition unit is a finger print recognition unit or a face recognition unit oran iris recognition unit or the like or combinations of these. The UIDAI number is entered in the voting unit 220 for casting the vote to the desired candidate. Once the UIDAI number is entered in the voting unit 220, the voter is requested to provide his/her biometric details using the biometric recognition unit 230. The voter is recognised by his fingerprint, face, or an iris or combinations of these.

[0031] Thereafter, the entered biometric details of the voter are matched with the biometric details stored in the server 212 with respect to the UIDAI number. Upon matching the details of the voter with pre stored details in the server 210, the voter is ready to cast vote. Also, the candidate list is displayed to the voter upon matching the biometric details. Once the details are being matched the voter can cast his vote.

[0032] Furthermore, once the voting is done, the UIDAI number is locked for further processing and the vote is saved in the server 210.
[0033] Therefore, the present invention provides the advantage of a method 100for electronic voting. The method 100 reduces fraudulent voting. Also, the method 100 allows voting from everywhere in the world, thereby saving time and money. Further, the method 100 reduces booth capturing. Furthermore, the method 100 does not require separate preparation of voters list every time when the election is announced. Moreover, the method 100 is economical and simple in operation.

[0034] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A method for electronic voting, the method comprising steps of:
storing voter’s details along with the respective UIDAI number(Aadhaar number) in a server;
connecting the server with a voting unit;
connecting the voting unit with a biometric recognition unit;
entering the UIDAI number in the voting unit;
upon entering the UIDAI number, the voter is requested to provide his biometric details using the biometric recognition unit,
matching the entered biometric details of the voter with the biometric details stored in the server with respect to the UIDAI number;
displaying the candidates’ list to the voter upon matching the biometric details for casting the vote, upon casting the vote, the UIDAI number is locked for further voting;
saving the vote in the server.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UIDAI number is an Aadhaar Number.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric recognition unit is a finger print recognition unit, a face recognition unit, an iris recognition unit or the like.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voting unit is electronic device, such as a personal computer, a mobile, a kiosk or the like.