🗳️ Building a Simple Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) with Arduino

Author: Namit Seth
Project Repository: EVM-V2 on GitHub
TinkerCAD Simulation: Live Circuit Simulation

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🔧 Introduction

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are a modern replacement for traditional ballot paper-based voting systems. They offer faster results, reduced human error, and are environmentally friendly. In this blog, I’ll walk you through my Arduino-based EVM Project (V2)—a simplified version that demonstrates the working of a voting machine with live vote tallying and result display on an LCD screen.

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🧠 Project Objective

To simulate an EVM that:

• Allows three candidates to receive votes via push buttons.
• Displays a real-time voting interface.
• Shows the winner after voting ends.
• Uses simple components that can be breadboarded and simulated using TinkerCAD.

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🔩 Components Used

• 1 x Arduino Uno
• 1 x 16x2 LCD display
• 3 x Push buttons (for voting)
• 1 x Push button (to end voting & show result)
• 3 x LEDs (to indicate votes being cast)
• 1 x Buzzer (to confirm button press)
• Resistors: 220Ω, 1kΩ
• Breadboard and jumper wires

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🔌 Circuit Diagram

🔗 View on TinkerCAD

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💻 How It Works

1. Initialization: The LCD displays a welcome message. All vote counters are set to zero.
2. Voting Process:
   • Each push button corresponds to a candidate.
   • On pressing a button:
     • The respective vote counter increases.
     • The LED blinks and the buzzer sounds as feedback.
3. Ending Voting:
   • Press the “Result” button to stop voting.
   • The LCD displays the vote count for each candidate and highlights the winner.
   • In case of a tie, the LCD indicates it.

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🧠 Code Overview

The project logic is written in Arduino’s C-style syntax. You can find the full .ino file here.

Some key logic includes:

if (digitalRead(button1) == HIGH) {
  votesA++;
  tone(buzzer, 1000, 200);
  digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
  delay(200);
  digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
}

The LCD library (LiquidCrystal.h) is used to handle display outputs:

lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
lcd.print("Votes A: ");
lcd.print(votesA);

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🔍 What I Learned

• Basics of user interface feedback using LCD and buzzer
• Debouncing and logical state detection with buttons
• Real-world application of conditional logic
• Hands-on practice with TinkerCAD and Arduino IDE

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📈 Future Improvements

• Add password-protected access to the result button
• Implement EEPROM to store votes after power loss
• Replace buttons with capacitive touch sensors
• Add SD card logging for audit trail

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🧑‍💻 Try It Yourself!

🔗 GitHub: namit-seth/EVM-V2
🔗 TinkerCAD: EVM V2 Simulation

Feel free to fork the project and add your own creative twist!