Project – Computerized campus online voting system

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

This chapter introduces the overall project under the following headings:   Background of the study, statement of the problem, aim and objectives, significance of the study, scope, limitations and definition of terms.

1.1 Background of the Study

Elections form a critical process in democratic systems and application of information technologies to their management is a great milestone towards realizing effectiveness and efficiency not only in the results of the election process itself but also in the financial implications that come up with the process.

According to Al-Ansi&Kartono (2023), An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government. This process is also used in many other private and business organizations, from clubs to voluntary associations and corporations.

According toEjikema (2019), The universal use of elections as a tool for selecting representatives in modern representative democracies is in contrast with the practice in the democratic archetype, ancient Athens, where the Elections were considered an oligarchic institution and most political offices were filled using sortation, also known as allotment, by which officeholders were chosen by lot. Electoral reform describes the process of introducing fair electoral systems where they are not in place, or improving the fairness or effectiveness of existing systems. According to Brito, Silva Filho&Adeodato (2021), Psephology is the study of results and other statistics relating to elections (especially with a view to predicting future results).

To elect means “to choose or make a decision”, and so sometimes other forms of ballot such as referendums are referred to as elections, especially in the Nigeria. (Encyclopedia, 2009)

According to Maisel (2022), Voting is a method for a group, such as, a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion, usually following discussions, debates or election campaigns. Democracies elect holders of high office by voting. Residents of a place represented by an elected official are called “constituents”, and those constituents who cast a ballot for their chosen candidate are called “voters”. There are different systems for collecting votes.

According to Mitchell (2000), In a democracy, a government is chosen by voting in an election: a way for an electorate to elect, i.e., choose, among several candidates for rule. In a representative; democracy voting is the method by which the electorate appoints its representatives in its government. In a direct democracy, voting is the method by which the electorate directly make decisions, turn bills into laws, etc.

According to Ezeador, &Ezeani (2021), A vote is a formal expression of an individual’s choice for or against some motion (for example, a proposed resolution); for or against some ballot question; or for a certain candidate, selection of candidates, or political party. Many countries use a secret ballot, a practice to prevent voters from being intimidated and to protect their political privacy.

Voting often takes place at a polling station; it is voluntary in some countries, compulsory in others, such as Australia. www.gov.uk. (2018).

Federal Polytechnic Bali, one of the Polytechnics in Nigeria needs a computerized management of student union elections in future due to the shortcomings in the human clerk electioneering system happening in various Nigeria Institutions. The drawbacks of a traditional election system are mainly collusion between the electronic officials and contestants, the queuing time, delayed results, overworked tallying officials and the undeniable fact of human errors.

Reinforcing a one voter one vote policy is difficult in such a situation and ma- practices as rigging are not uncommon in human clerk system.

By the use of online voting system, the technology made it easier by providing an online platform whereby it enables the voters to cast their votes without following the manual system whereas it makes it more difficult and time consuming and also cost a lot of expenses by purchasing the materials to be used in conducting the election (Farooq, Iftikhar, &Khelifi, 2022). However, by introducing this technology it will be of help to my colleagues at federal polytechnic Bali in order to conduct free and fair election in the institution in the future.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In Federal Polytechnic Bali generally there is Student Representative Council(SRC) at the moment but it is believed that the manual voting system operating in some of the institution in Nigeria have major factor caused by a manual voting system in which can or lead to violence in the institute. For instance, a recent students’ union election that polarized the students along religious lines, in ModibboAdama University of technology (MAUTECH) leading to loss of lives and properties, there has been tension in the institution.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this project is to develop a campus voting system that will be deploy at Federal Polytechnic Bali in the future. This would help the election committee of the Student Representative Council to conduct a free and fair elections.

The objectives of this project include, but are not limited to:

1. To ensure credibility in elections by preventing double voting,
2. To help the student union government reduce the huge costs that could be incurred in conducting elections.

• To enable the student to vote at their convenient.

1. Keep accurate record of votes.
2. Reduce time wasted in announcing election result.
3. Eliminate disenfranchising electorates.

1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The project work is designed to enable the students of Federal Polytechnic Bali to use the online campus voting system software to cast their votes and choose their leaders wisely, and by the use of this system elections will be conducted free and fairly without any rigging, ballot snatching or other form of election malpractices.

During the design of this project work, much finance was required and owing to the financial meltdown globally, the research was limited by finance and hence concentrated on the available materials within the locality. Time factor was also the greatest barrier to the successful completion of this exercise since it had to be done within the semester.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This project work will help in a good number of ways in conducting credible elections within Federal polytechnic Bali. The Automation of campus voting system enables the Student Representative Council (SRC) to Conduct free and fair election, Safeguard data and information in the system, Reduced workload in the process of conducting election.

The purpose of this study is to design and implement an online voting system, the study will activate democracy and ensure that the popular choice emerges in any election conducted in Federal Polytechnic Bali, i expect that my colleagues would remain excited as it is deployed and developed further, it however remains to be seen how the application which is aimed at improving the election processes of the Student Representative Council(SRC) of the institution.

1.6 Definition of terms

Online Voting System: Also known as e-voting is a term encompassing several different types of voting embracing both electronic means of counting votes. Electronic voting technology can include punched cards, optical scan voting systems and specialized voting kiosks (including self-contained direct-recording electronic voting systems or DRE).

Campus: The grounds and buildings of a university or college.

SMS: Short Message Service.

i-voting: internet voting.

DRE: Direct Recording Electronics.

RSU: Rivers State University.

ICT: Information and Communication Technology.

SRC: Student Representative Council.

SUEC: Students Union Electoral Commission.

SIVS: Secure Internet Voting System.

UPS: uninterrupted power

Project – Computerized campus online voting system