Secure and Scalable Blockchain Voting: A Comparative Framework and the Role of Large Language Models
Kiana Kiashemshaki, Elvis Nnaemeka Chukwuani, Mohammad Jalili Torkamani, Negin Mahmoudi
TL;DR
This paper presents a structured framework for evaluating blockchain-based E-Voting across four dimensions: scalability, security/privacy, efficiency, and ease of implementation, and analyzes how consensus mechanisms, cryptographic approaches, and architectural choices trade off these goals. It argues that hybrid consensus (e.g., PoS+BFT), lightweight privacy-preserving cryptography, and decentralized identity are essential for large-scale elections, while proposing a LLM-enabled prototype workflow for secure smart contract generation and auditing on a private testnet. The study contributes a comparative framework, optimization strategies, and a roadmap, including LLM-assisted auditing and pilot deployments, to advance secure, scalable, and intelligent blockchain voting systems. The practical significance lies in providing design principles and a prototype pathway toward national-scale E-Voting that balances transparency, privacy, and operational feasibility, aided by AI-assisted contract development and validation.
Abstract
Blockchain technology offers a promising foundation for modernizing E-Voting systems by enhancing transparency, decentralization, and security. Yet, real-world adoption remains limited due to persistent challenges such as scalability constraints, high computational demands, and complex privacy requirements. This paper presents a comparative framework for analyzing blockchain-based E-Voting architectures, consensus mechanisms, and cryptographic protocols. We examine the limitations of prevalent models like Proof of Work, Proof of Stake, and Delegated Proof of Stake, and propose optimization strategies that include hybrid consensus, lightweight cryptography, and decentralized identity management. Additionally, we explore the novel role of Large Language Models (LLMs) in smart contract generation, anomaly detection, and user interaction. Our findings offer a foundation for designing secure, scalable, and intelligent blockchain-based E-Voting systems suitable for national-scale deployment. This work lays the groundwork for building an end-to-end blockchain E-Voting prototype enhanced by LLM-guided smart contract generation and validation, supported by a systematic framework and simulation-based analysis.