KABETE NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC

UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES E-VOTING

SYSTEM PROJECT PROPOSAL

NAME: FESTUS DAUDI

ADM NO: CICT/775/018J

SUBMITTED ON 29 November 2019

1
CHAPTER 1: SYSTEM INTRODUCTION
This document proposes Electronic voting system for universities in Kenya. The e-voting system proposed
herein is a system with the capability to conduct a university election process electrically using desktop
computers while upholding the electoral legal principles enshrined in university constitutions.

1.1Current System
The current system of voting used by many universities in Kenya is the traditional voting system, where
voters cast their votes into physical ballot boxes during the voting process after which the votes in the
ballot boxes are counted, the results analyzed and the election outcome determined.

1.2 Problem definition

The problem presented by the current voting system is multifaceted. The problems include;

 Inability to provide quick election results

The current system does not encourage quick provision of election results. This is because the results
generation process is largely manual.

 Inaccuracy of the election results

With the results generation process being largely manual the occurrence of errors is inevitable. The errors
normally result from miscount of votes.

 Huge administrative costs

The administrative costs that facilitate the electoral process are very high. The exercise calls for expensive
ballot papers and boxes, assistance personnel and security services.

 The vulnerability of the voting process to interference from people,

Electioneering during the election process sometimes arise where by the candidates or their party
supporters’ campaign during the electoral process in order to influence voters. This interferes with the
electoral process which should be conducted in a democratic way.

 Chaos during the voting process

The election process is sometimes plagued by chaos from the party supporters.

1.3 Objectives
The system should be able to;
Give accurate election results.
Generate the election results at the click of a button.
Ensure data integrity, availability and confidentiality.
Uphold electoral principles which include;
Universal suffrage
Transparency
Right to secret voting

2
1.4 Scope
The scope of the new system;
Registration of candidates
Voting
Generation of election results

1.5 Development tools

The system will be developed using the following development tools;
Microsoft Access

1.6 System running environment

The system will run on the following environments;
Desktops
Laptops

3
CHARPTER 2: METHODOLOGY

2.1 Gathering of information

The information which helped me to come up with this system was gathered through the following
methods;
Interview- I visited several universities and colleges in Kenya, among them where, Technical
university of Kenya, University of Nairobi and Kabete National Polytechnic. I then requested permission to
interview a group of students on their current voting systems. These interviews helped me find out the
voting systems they use and the kind of attitude students have on an e-voting system if it is introduced into
their schools.

Questionnaire-I formulated questions touching on the current system of voting. I then presented
my questions to a group of students in University of Nairobi. Questions where like… When do you vote? Do
you participate in voting? Where would you rank the current voting system in your school in a scale of one
to five? Is there chaos during voting? Afterwards I analyzed the results from the questioners.
Observation- I observed a university election process to find out how a university election process is
conducted. I picked several universities which included Technical university of Kenya, Moi University and
Kabete National Polytechnic. In my observation I discovered that voting in many universities is beset by
many challenges which derail the whole voting process and as a consequence election credibility is
compromised. Among the challenges which I absolved where, pushing during the voting, chaos, campaign
during election time among other challenges. It was from this that I was able to understand fully the
challenges of election systems in Kenyan universities and colleges.

4
2.2 System plan
The system plan shows the sequence of the activities that will constitute my entire project.

2.3 Feasibility report

Economic feasibility

The new system has a tremendous economic sense in that it dispenses with the administrative costs
associated with the traditional voting system. For instance, the new system will not require the
expensive ballot papers and boxes. It will also not require assistance personnel to direct the voters on
how to conduct the electoral process for it will be self-directive. The system will not require security
personnel to ensure security during the voting exercise for the voting will be done on a secure ground.
Technical feasibility
The technology that I have chosen to develop this system is Microsoft access, I chose this Technology
because my system is desktop based system and this technology is the most renowned technology in
developing desktop based applications today.

The system will also have clearly and concisely labeled interfaces to ease its usage. User help features will
be inbuilt in the system to help users more so those with a little computer expertise to conduct the voting
exercise easily.

Operational Feasibility
My system will have the capacity to solve the multifaceted problems linked to traditional voting
system that I have enumerated on my problem definition section. The problem of low voted turn out
will be solved because students will be to vote from anywhere. The problem of electioneering
(campaigning during the Election Day) will be eliminated because voting will not be done on a
centralized place where candidates can meet and influence votes. Miscounting of votes will be
eliminated completely because counting will be done by the system. Lastly election results will be
released immediately the election is done. No more waiting for three days as has been the custom in
many universities.

5
CHAPTER 3: SYSTEM ANALYSIS DESIGN
3.1 Requirements determination
The requirements of the proposed system are;
The system should authenticate the voters based on their identities.
The system should generate results on a click of a button
The system should allow only eligible voters to vote
Every voter shall only cast one vote
It must be impossible to alter any bodies vote
The complete voting procedure must be transparent
The system should be user friendly

3.2 Requirements analysis

The system requirements are analyzed using Data flow Diagram.

Display Choose an
Voter Registered elective elective
? positions position

Vote for a
candidate
Exit
system

6
CHAPTER 4: SYSTEM DESIGN
4.1 Introduction
The system design constitutes the Input design, output design and database design.
Input design
This design comprises of well-defined user interfaces to capture user data. The data captured is stored in a
database.
Output design
The output design comprises of clear interfaces which give the user information.
Database design
The database design consists of data tables that store the system user data.

4.2 Input design

i) Voters registration

Username

Name

Year

Department

Register New Voter Previous Next

Delete Submit Voter

The voter registration module is used to register the voters. The voters’ details are sent to the database.

7
ii) Login
A) Student login

STUDENT LOGIN
Admission No

Password

Enter

The student login module authenticates a student voting credentials and grants him the permission to vote
if his login credentials are valid.

B) Administrator login

ADMINSTRATOR LOGIN
Username

Password

Enter

The Administrator login module authenticates the administrator login credentials and grants him the
permission to carry out administrative roles on the system.

8
iii) Candidates registration

Username

Name

Year

Department

Register New Voter Previous Next

Delete Submit Candidate

The candidate registration module is used to register election candidates. The candidate’s details are sent
to a database.