🗳️ ONLINE VOTING SYSTEM

Project Overview

This project is a full-stack, secure, and modern online voting platform designed by Ms. Naigaga Shillah, a Software Engineering Student, to facilitate paperless, transparent, and accessible election processes. It includes a robust Spring Boot (Java) backend for API and data management, and a dynamic React (JavaScript) frontend for the user interface.

Technology Stack

Component	Technology	Description
Frontend	React (with Hooks/Router)	Provides a responsive and interactive user experience for voters and administrators.
Backend	Spring Boot (Java)	Handles business logic, security, and RESTful API endpoints.
Database	(Assumed) MySQL/PostgreSQL/H2	For persistent storage of voter, candidate, and election data.
Styling	CSS/Tailwind/Bootstrap (Based on project files)	For application styling and layout.

🚀 Getting Started

Follow these steps to set up the project locally for development and testing.

Prerequisites

• Java Development Kit (JDK) 17+
• Maven (for the Backend)
• Node.js & npm (for the Frontend)
• A suitable IDE (e.g., IntelliJ IDEA, VS Code, Eclipse)

1. Clone the Repository

git clone git@github.com:bos-com/Online-Voting-System.git
cd Online-Voting-System

2. Backend Setup (Java/Spring Boot)

1. Navigate to the backend directory:

   cd backend

2. Configure Database: Edit the connection properties in src/main/resources/application.properties to point to your local database instance. Example:

   spring.datasource.url=jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/voting_db
   spring.datasource.username=root
   spring.datasource.password=your_password

3. Build and Run: Use Maven to compile and start the Spring Boot application:

   mvn clean install
   mvn spring-boot:run

   The backend will typically start on http://localhost:8080.

3. Frontend Setup (React)

1. Navigate to the frontend directory:

   cd ../frontend/voting-client

2. Install Dependencies:

   npm install

3. Start the Application:

   npm start

   The frontend application will typically open in your browser on http://localhost:3000.

🔑 Key Features

• Voter Management: Secure registration, authentication, and eligibility checks for registered voters.
• Candidate Management: Admin tools to add, modify, and remove candidates for different offices.
• Election Creation: Tools to define election periods, offices, and rules.
• Real-Time Voting: Secure casting of votes, ensuring one vote per voter.
• Results Dashboard: Real-time visibility of election results for administrators and potentially voters.

🤝 Contribution Guidelines

We welcome contributions to improve the Online Voting System!

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/your-new-feature
3. Commit your changes clearly: git commit -m "Feat: Added new admin view for voters"
4. Push to your branch: git push origin feature/your-new-feature
5. Open a Pull Request to the main branch.

👤 Contact

• Organization: bos-com
• Repository Owner: shillat
• Email: shillahnaigaga5@gmail.com