Design and Implementation of an Online Voting System for Faculty of Computing

ABSTRACT The transition from traditional voting methods to online voting systems (OVS) has become increasingly important in the 21st century, particularly in academic institutions where efficiency, security, and accessibility are paramount. This project focuses on the design and implementation of an Online Voting System tailored for the Faculty of Computing at Northwest University, Kano. The proposed system aims to address the inefficiencies and vulnerabilities associated with the current manual voting processes, such as logistical delays, errors in vote counting, and concerns about election integrity. By leveraging modern technologies, the OVS provides a secure, user-friendly platform that enables students and faculty members to cast their votes remotely, thereby increasing voter participation and ensuring the credibility of the electoral process. The system incorporates robust security features, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and real-time monitoring, to prevent fraud and unauthorized access. It also includes functionalities for voter registration, candidate management, and real-time vote tallying, ensuring transparency and fairness in the election process. The project was developed using an agile methodology, with iterative feedback from stakeholders to refine the system's design and functionality. Tools such as XAMPP, MariaDB, MySQL, PHP, and HTML/CSS were utilized in the development process, ensuring a scalable and efficient solution. The implementation of the OVS is expected to significantly reduce the costs and time associated with traditional voting methods, while also addressing issues such as voter absenteeism and logistical challenges. The system's user-friendly interface and secure architecture make it a viable solution for conducting elections within the Faculty of Computing, with potential for future expansion to other faculties and university-wide elections. This project not only highlights the benefits of online voting systems but also underscores the importance of integrating advanced security measures to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in academic institutions.