M-NOTE: A Multi-part ballot based E-voting system with clash attack protection

In this paper, we propose an E-voting procedure which, by utilizing the multi-part ballot mode, provides voters an enhanced way to cast and audit their own votes with great anonymity. The proposed scheme, the Multi-part ballot based Name and vOte separaTed E-voting system (M-NOTE), is partially based on our previous works, which have achieved the goal of keeping candidates confidential and voters anonymous, as well as reducing the risk of leaking both candidates' and voters' identities during the ballot distribution phase. In addition, M-NOTE can prevent the possible clash attack in which either malicious authority or hackers could partially manipulate voting results by tampering voters' original ballots. Meanwhile, our performance analysis shows that M-NOTE provides an outstanding secured level, as the possibility of ballot reconstruction and voting result manipulation has been reduced to closer to zero. This E-voting system also illustrates to readers an applicable framework of designing a fair election in the future.