Security Architecture & Threat Model

A technical review of safeguards protecting the integrity of every ballot.

Encryption at Rest & Transit

All data transmitted to and from BallotBox is encrypted using Industry-standard TLS 1.2+. Voter data and official logs are encrypted at rest using AES-256 bit encryption.

Decoupled Identity

Our database architecture uses a "blind-tally" system. Votes are stored in a separate, anonymized collection that contains no foreign keys or references to the voter's identity.

Tamper-Evident Logs

Every administrative action—from election setup to station reporting—is recorded in a secure audit log. These logs are immutable and designed to detect any unauthorized modification.

Sovereign Hosting

BallotBox utilizes secure, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with data residency configurations that respect community requirements and Canadian privacy laws.

Threat Model & Mitigation Matrix

How BallotBox defends against specific election-related risks.

Threat Category	Mitigation Strategy
Voter Impersonation	Multi-factor verification against community-authorized ID numbers (Status Cards/DL). Uniqueness constraints prevent duplicate registrations.
Double Voting	Real-time "Voted" status flag updates on authenticated voter profiles, enforced by server-side Firestore Security Rules.
Ballot Box Stuffing	Anonymized votes are only accepted if the request originates from an eligible user who has not yet cast a ballot.
Anonymity Breach	Decoupled database architecture. The "how" (ballot) is physically separated from the "who" (voter record) at the point of ingestion.
Administrative Overreach	Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). Separation of duties prevents Electoral Officers from casting ballots and Polling Staff from modifying the registry.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)	End-to-end encryption via TLS 1.2+. Session pinning and strict HSTS headers.

Architecture Review Summary

Frontend Security: Built with Next.js using Server Components for sensitive data handling and Client Components for interactive participation. Protected against XSS via React's automatic escaping.

Cloud Backend: Leverages Google Firebase for managed authentication and globally distributed, secure document storage. Infrastructure follows ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA compliance standards.

Real-time Security Rules: All data access is governed by a declarative security policy that evaluates the identity, eligibility, and current state of the requesting user before any read or write is permitted.

Offline Persistence: Utilizes IndexedDB with multi-tab synchronization to ensure that polling station data remains available and secure even in zero-connectivity environments.

For technical security inquiries, please contact security@centurion-computers.ca