Enhancing Helios for Elections at Qatar University
摘要
At Qatar University, campus elections are held regularly, including those for the Qatar University Student Representative Board (QUSRB). These elections enable students to elect representatives from each college to serve as their voice in university decision-making. Currently, voting takes place via the myBanner Self-Service System. This platform lacks robust security measures and does not offer verifiability, raising concerns about the integrity and transparency of the process. Helios, an end-to-end verifiable voting system widely studied and used in academic settings, presents a promising alternative. However, its current implementation suffers from several security and usability limitations. Drawing on previous literature, this article identifies key shortcomings, such as weak voter authentication and compromised privacy due to ballot tracker exposure, and proposes concrete enhancements. With these improvements, Helios can serve as a secure and feasible alternative to the voting system currently used in the QUSRB elections.