Universal Decentralized Voting System (UDVS) – A Blockchain-Based Global Voting Platform for Transparent, Secure, and Inclusive Elections Using Cardano.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Osita Ogbonna

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

The Universal Decentralized Voting System (UDVS) leverages the Cardano blockchain to create a secure, transparent voting framework using smart contracts and Atala PRISM for identity verification.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

We will depend on Atala PRISM for decentralized identity verification, ensuring that only eligible individuals can vote. Additionally, Plutus smart contracts will be used to ensure secure and automated vote tallying and result publication. These dependencies are essential to maintain the security, transparency, and immutability of the voting process.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All voting protocols, smart contracts, and identity verification integrations will be made open source to foster community trust, collaboration, and innovation in decentralized governance.

[METADATA] Horizons

Governance

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The Universal Decentralized Voting System (UDVS) will:

1. Decentralized Identity Verification:
2. Using Atala PRISM, voters’ identities will be securely verified in a decentralized manner, ensuring that only eligible individuals participate in elections or decision-making processes. Privacy will be maintained as sensitive voter information will not be stored centrally.
3. Smart Contract-Driven Voting:
4. Plutus smart contracts will automate the voting process, ensuring that all votes are immutably recorded on the Cardano blockchain. The smart contracts will govern voter registration, vote casting, and automatic vote tallying, ensuring that the entire process is transparent and verifiable.
5. Transparency and Immutability:
6. Every vote will be securely recorded on the blockchain, providing full transparency while eliminating any chance of tampering or fraudulent activities. The immutable nature of the blockchain guarantees that results cannot be altered once published.
7. Universal Applicability:
8. UDVS can be applied in different domains:

• Governmental Elections: Allow citizens to cast secure, verifiable votes in local or national elections.
• Corporate Governance: Facilitate transparent decision-making processes for shareholders and board members.
• Community Voting: Enable decentralized communities, such as DAOs, to govern and make decisions efficiently and securely.

1. Customizable Voting Parameters:
2. The system will be customizable, allowing different organizations to tailor voting rules based on their specific needs (e.g., one-person-one-vote, weighted voting based on token holdings, etc.).
3. Privacy-Preserving Voting:
4. Using cryptographic methods such as zero-knowledge proofs, voters can be verified and their votes counted without revealing their identities or individual voting choices, ensuring complete privacy while still maintaining transparency.
5. Auditable Results:
6. Once the voting period is completed, results will be published in an auditable format that anyone can verify on the blockchain. Third-party auditors or members of the community can independently validate the integrity of the process.
7. Governance Layer for Voting Systems:
8. For decentralized projects and DAOs, UDVS will provide a governance layer where participants can vote on proposals, funding distributions, or leadership elections using secure on-chain mechanisms.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

UDVS will:

• Enhance trust in voting processes: By using blockchain, we eliminate the risks of fraud, manipulation, and miscounting, bringing unprecedented transparency to voting.
• Enable decentralized governance: For decentralized organizations and DAOs, UDVS will be a powerful tool that fosters trust and engagement in community decision-making.
• Foster adoption of Cardano in governmental systems: UDVS could be the first step toward integrating Cardano into real-world governmental or institutional processes, opening doors to large-scale adoption of blockchain technology.

Measuring Success:

• Number of organizations or governments adopting UDVS for their voting systems.
• Number of successful elections or governance votes conducted on the platform.
• Community feedback on security, transparency, and ease of use.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team includes:

• Osita Ogbonna – Blockchain Developer, Decentralized Governance Specialist: Skilled in smart contract development and blockchain integration.
• Justin Chuka – Project Lead, Strategy, UX/UI: Extensive experience in UX design and ensuring smooth user interaction with blockchain-based systems.

Validation and Feasibility:

We will validate our system through initial pilot tests with decentralized communities (e.g., DAOs) and small organizations to prove the effectiveness of the voting system before scaling it up to more significant use cases such as governmental or corporate voting.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Platform Architecture and Design (2 months)

Objective: Design a user-friendly interface and robust architecture for the UDVS platform.

Key Tasks:

• Define user personas for voters, administrators, and auditors.
• Create wireframes and UI mockups prioritizing accessibility and ease of use.
• Ensure compliance with relevant voting regulations.

Deliverables: Finalized design documents and UI/UX ready for development.

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development and Testing (4 months)

Objective: Develop and test smart contracts for secure voting operations.

Key Tasks:

• Create Plutus smart contracts for ballot creation, submission, and counting.
• Conduct thorough testing in a sandbox environment to ensure security.
• Audit smart contracts to identify and fix vulnerabilities.

Deliverables: Fully functional and tested smart contracts deployed on the Cardano testnet.

Milestone 3: Integration with Atala PRISM (2 months)

Objective: Integrate Atala PRISM for decentralized identity verification.

Key Tasks:

• Implement Atala PRISM for voter registration and identity verification.
• Ensure secure access to voting through biometric or credential-based methods.
• Test integration to guarantee smooth user experience and security.

Deliverables: A fully integrated system that verifies voter identities securely.

Milestone 4: Pilot Voting Implementation (2 months)

Objective: Conduct a pilot voting process using the UDVS with a select group of users.

Key Tasks:

• Recruit participants to test the voting platform in a controlled setting.
• Monitor voting activities and gather feedback on user experience.
• Analyze pilot results for insights on improvements.

Deliverables: Completed pilot with user feedback and performance metrics.

Final Milestone: Full Public Launch of UDVS (2 months)

Objective: Officially launch the Universal Decentralized Voting System to the public.

Key Tasks:

• Roll out the platform to various organizations and communities.
• Launch marketing campaigns and educational resources for users.
• Monitor platform performance and provide ongoing support.

Deliverables: A fully operational UDVS, live for public use, with initial user onboarding.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Our team includes:

• Osita Ogbonna – Blockchain Developer, Decentralized Governance Specialist: Skilled in smart contract development and blockchain integration.
• Justin Chuka – Project Lead, Strategy, UX/UI: Extensive experience in UX design and ensuring smooth user interaction with blockchain-based systems.

Validation and Feasibility:

We will validate our system through initial pilot tests with decentralized communities (e.g., DAOs) and small organizations to prove the effectiveness of the voting system before scaling it up to more significant use cases such as governmental or corporate voting.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Our team includes:

• Osita Ogbonna – Blockchain Developer, Decentralized Governance Specialist: Skilled in smart contract development and blockchain integration.
• Justin Chuka – Project Lead, Strategy, UX/UI: Extensive experience in UX design and ensuring smooth user interaction with blockchain-based systems.

Validation and Feasibility:

We will validate our system through initial pilot tests with decentralized communities (e.g., DAOs) and small organizations to prove the effectiveness of the voting system before scaling it up to more significant use cases such as governmental or corporate voting.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Universal Decentralized Voting System will revolutionize how organizations, DAOs, and even governments conduct their elections, all built on the security and transparency of the Cardano blockchain. By addressing the challenges of centralized voting systems, this project will not only showcase the practical application of blockchain in critical areas but will also position Cardano as the leading platform for decentralized governance solutions.