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Electronic Voting Machine using ARDUINO UNO

Article in IEEE Micro · July 2024

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 Electronic Voting Machine using
ARDUINO UNO

Debashish Dash
School of Electronics Engineering
(SENSE)
Vellore Institute of Technology - Vellore, India
[email protected]

Dileesha A Sangeetha M
School of Computer Science and Engineering School of Computer Science and Engineering
(SCOPE) (SCOPE)
Vellore Institute of Technology - Vellore, India Vellore Institute of Technology - Vellore, India
[email protected] [email protected]

Jenifer Shanmugasundaram Sharon Jessika S

School of Computer Science and Engineering School of Computer Science and Engineering
(SCOPE) (SCOPE)
Vellore Institute of Technology - Vellore, India. Vellore Institute of Technology - Vellore, India
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract — The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) stands as a I. INTRODUCTION

testament to the evolution of democracy, replacing the traditional
ballot papers and boxes with a streamlined electronic device. At
the heart of democracy lies the fundamental right to vote, and the India, as the world's largest democratic country,
EVM simplifies this process significantly. Gone are the days of grapples with the formidable challenge of managing
laboriously stamping ballot papers and folding them into its vast electorate, numbering at 850 million
prescribed methods before depositing them into the Ballot Box, a registered voters. In response to the imperative of
process prone to errors and time-consuming. Enter the electronic
voting machine, which condenses all these steps into a single,
conducting elections efficiently, securely, and
efficient device—the ballot unit. This technological advancement transparently, the Election Commission of India has
revolutionizes the electoral process by eliminating the need for embraced Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) over
physical papers, stamps, and boxes. Instead, voters can cast their the past 23 years. Introduced in 1982, EVMs have
choices swiftly and accurately through the EVM. Moreover, with
the advent of biometric identifiers, the reliability of the voting
reshaped the electoral landscape by seamlessly
process receives a significant boost. Biometrics, being difficult to blending the speed and reliability of traditional paper
misplace, forge, or share, offer a more secure method for person ballots with advanced technological features. Driven
recognition compared to traditional token or knowledge-based by sophisticated microcontroller technology such as
approaches. Thus, there arises a pressing need to enhance the
electronic voting system by integrating current technologies such
the AT89C51, EVMs signify a paradigm shift in
as biometrics. This article presents a comprehensive review of democratic machinery. These devices harness low-
voting devices, delving into the issues surrounding traditional power, high-performance CMOS microcomputers
methods and comparing them with the efficiency and security with programmable memory to enable seamless
offered by biometric EVMs. Through this exploration, it
recording, storage, and tabulation of votes. With
underscores the importance of embracing technological
advancements to safeguard the integrity and efficiency of features including flash programmable memory and
democratic processes. EEPROM storage, EVMs ensure data integrity, even
in the event of power disruptions, thereby preserving
Keywords — Voting, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) the sanctity of electoral outcomes. The significance of
EVMs extends beyond India's borders, attracting
1
interest from governments worldwide seeking to input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM
modernize their electoral processes. EVMs' user- outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic
friendly interface, tamper-proof design, and capacity resonator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP
to thwart fraudulent activities position them as header and a reset button. With a USB interface for
essential tools for transparent and efficient elections. programming and serial communication, along with
By simplifying the voting process and obviating options for power via USB or an external source, the
manual counting, EVMs expedite result UNO provides flexibility in both connectivity and
announcements, fostering governance stability and power management.
facilitating economic growth. Moreover, EVMs
embody the fundamental principles of democracy by
safeguarding the confidentiality of voter choices and
delivering tamper-proof results. Developed through
collaboration between the Election Commission of
India and esteemed public sector undertakings like
BEL and ECIL, EVMs have undergone rigorous
testing and implementation, instilling public trust
and confidence. The widespread adoption of EVMs
marks a significant milestone in the evolution of
electoral systems, offering a technologically
advanced solution to the intricate challenges of
organizing elections in populous countries like India.
2.1) Arduino UNO
As nations strive to fortify democratic governance
LCD: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens are
and promote citizen participation, the proliferation of
electronic display modules utilized for various
EVMs represents a transformative stride toward
purposes. A 16x2 LCD can exhibit 16 characters per
transparent, efficient, and inclusive electoral
line across its two lines. Each character is represented
processes.
in a 5x7 pixel matrix on this type of LCD. There are
two registers on the LCD: Command and Data. The
II. PROPOSED SYSTEM
command register stores LCD command instructions,
which dictate activities such as initialization, screen
The Electronic Voting System project operates under
clearing, cursor positioning, display management,
the control of an Arduino UNO. The Arduino Uno
and more. On the other hand, the data register holds
serves as the central processing unit, interfacing with
the information to be displayed on the LCD. This
peripherals such as an LCD display for voter
information consists of ASCII values representing the
information, push buttons for candidate selection,
characters to be displayed.
and LEDs for feedback and result indication.

The competition involves four candidates, and voters

have the freedom to cast their ballots for any of them.
Pins A0, A1, A2, and A5 of the Arduino UNO are
connected to the push button switches representing
the four candidates, alongside a master switch
connected to pin A4 for the polling officer's use in
this setup. Utilizing the Arduino, the system scans
the switches from poll 1 to poll 4 to register votes for
the candidates. The LCD displays the number of
votes by each candidate after each voter votes. When
the polling officer presses the master key, the results
2.2) 16X2 LCD
are displayed (“Candidate Wins”).
Push Buttons: A pushbutton switch is one whose
III. COMPONENTS
contacts are opened and closed by pressing and
releasing a pushbutton on the switch along its axis.
A. HARDWARE
LED: LEDs are semiconductor devices composed of
Arduino UNO: Arduino UNO is a microcontroller
silicon. When current flows through the LED, it emits
based on the ATmega328P. It has 14 digital
2
photons as a byproduct. Unlike conventional light the IDE provides a user-friendly interface for writing,
bulbs that produce light by heating a metal filament compiling, and uploading code to Arduino boards. It
until it reaches white-hot temperatures, LEDs offer is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and
numerous advantages over traditional lighting the Arduino IDE also supports a wide range of
sources Arduino boards, making it suitable for beginners and
experienced programmers alike.
Potentiometer: The 10k potentiometer in the
electronic voting machine adjusts display brightness, IV. DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
volume levels, and sensor input sensitivity. It
optimizes the visibility of the interface, enhances The system is a simple electronic voting machine
user experience with audio feedback, and ensures implemented with an Arduino Uno board, comprising
accurate operation of touch-sensitive buttons. Its five push buttons and LEDs, and an LCD display.
inclusion improves usability and functionality, Upon power-up, the LCD initializes and displays
catering to diverse user preferences. "VOTING MACHINE".

Breadboard: A breadboard is utilized for Four push buttons are designated for voters, while the
prototyping and testing circuitry components before fifth is for the polling officer to request election
final implementation. It allows for rapid assembly results. When a voter presses a candidate's button, the
and experimentation of various modules such as corresponding vote increments and LED1 illuminates
microcontrollers and sensors, facilitating efficient briefly to confirm registration. The Arduino
design iteration. By providing a platform for continuously monitors button states, updating the
temporary connections and modifications, the LCD accordingly. When the polling officer requests
breadboard aids in troubleshooting and debugging results by pressing their button, LED0 lights up, and
circuitry issues, ensuring the reliability and the Arduino calculates and displays the outcome
functionality of the electronic system before based on vote totals. After displaying the result, the
deployment. system resets for another round of elections.

Resistor: Resistors play crucial roles in various This functionality is programmed in the Arduino
circuitry. They are used for current limiting to protect language, with initialization and logic written in the
components from excessive current flow, voltage `setup()` and `loop()` functions respectively.
division to adjust signal levels, and pull-up or pull- Following code development, it's uploaded to the
down configurations for digital inputs. In voting Arduino Uno via the Arduino IDE, completing the
machines, resistors help regulate voltage levels, setup for usage.
control currents, and ensure the proper functioning of
electronic components, contributing to the reliability
and stability of the system. Additionally, they aid in
setting thresholds for sensors, enabling accurate
detection of inputs such as button presses or card
insertions.

Wires: Wires in an electronic voting machine

facilitate the transmission of electrical signals and
power between components, including the
microcontroller, input and output devices, and power
sources. They ensure proper communication and
functionality, enabling accurate input of votes, clear
display of results, and reliable power supply
throughout the voting process.
3.1) Design Circuit
B. SOFTWARE

Arduino IDE: The Arduino IDE is an open-source

software that serves as the primary tool for
programming Arduino microcontroller boards.
Designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind,
3
 checks whether one of them has released a low
signal.

This method allows for the efficient detection of key

presses on the ballot unit, ensuring accurate
recording of voter selections in the Electronic
Voting Machine (EVM).

5.3 Process of Incrementing, Output Display and

Resetting:

Each switch press increments the corresponding vote

count variable. When the fifth switch is pressed, it
triggers the determination of the winner or if there’s a
tie. The controller checks which candidate has the
maximum no of votes and displays the corresponding
winner message. After displaying the result, vote
counts are reset to zero. The controller LCD is cleared
and LED outputs are turned off.

VI. RESULT
3.2) Code
In conventional voting, the results of the voting
cannot be declared until all the votes have been
V. OPERATION OF EVM counted manually while in Electronic voting one of
the biggest advantages is that the result can be
There are the following main steps of the operation declared as soon as the voting is over.
that take place within our EVM.

5.1 Initialization:

In this step, an instance of the LiquidCrystal class

is initialized with the pin numbers for the RS, EN,
D4, D5, D6 and D7 of LCD (connected to pins 11,
10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 of Arduino) and, all the variables
used are declared and assigned initial values. The
pin modes for the push buttons and LED outputs are
set (A0, A1, A2, A5, A4 of Arduino set as input
and, 13 and 12 set as output).

5.2 Checking for the pressed button: 5.1) Circuit

The processor enters a loop to detect key presses The initial setup of the Electronic voting machine is
following the initialization. shown above, here the LCD and Push buttons are
interfaced to the Arduino.
Key Detection Process:

Port Configuration: The push buttons (switches)

of the ballot unit are connected to the pins A0, A1,
A2, A5, and A4 of the Arduino.

Detection Algorithm: The controller continuously

reads data from the pins mentioned above and

4
 governance through elections is paramount.
However, conducting free and fair elections in a
populous nation poses significant challenges.
Traditional paper-based voting systems are
increasingly revealing vulnerabilities to issues like
booth capturing and result manipulation.
Furthermore, the laborious process of vote counting
and result declaration exacerbates these challenges.
In response, this paper introduces a microcontroller-
based Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) as a
solution. This EVM project offers cost-effectiveness,
requires minimal staff, and boasts compact
dimensions, reducing shipping costs and ensuring
5.2) On casting a vote swift result dissemination. EVMs, with robust legal
backing, have proven instrumental in facilitating
The above image shows the state of the LCD after quick and fair elections, thereby contributing to stable
push button 3 is pressed. The value of vote 3 i.e. no. governance and economic prosperity.
of votes for AAP is incremented.
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