University of Guyana

Berbice Campus

Semester Project

Group Members: Jude Edwards, Alvin Baldeo, Darrell Jagdeo.

Faculty: Natural Sciences
Department: Computer Science
Course Name: Software Engineering
Course Code: 2101
Lecturer: Gavin Ragnauth
 CSE2101 – Software Engineering (Submission 0)
Group Members – Jude Edwards - Judeedwards43@gmail.com (Group Leader)
Darrell Jagdeo - darrelljagdeo21@gmail.com
Alvin Baldeo - alvinantoniobaldeo@gmail.com
Submission Date: 20th November 2022.
Lecturer: Gavin Ragnauth

Proposed Project Idea

After brainstorming, the members of Group 3; Jude Edwards, Darrell Jagdeo and Alvin Baldeo
are proposing the implementation of an Electronic Voting System to facilitate General Elections
in Guyana to improve the accuracy and efficiency of counting ballots.
 CSE2101 – Software Engineering (Submission 1)
Group Members – Jude Edwards - Judeedwards43@gmail.com (Group Leader)
Darrell Jagdeo - darrelljagdeo21@gmail.com
Alvin Baldeo - alvinantoniobaldeo@gmail.com
Submissions - 1. Feasibility Report.
2. Project Risk Assessment.
3. Software Quality Assurance Plan.
4. Cost Estimation.
5. Schedule.
Submission Date: 2nd December 2022.
Lecturer: Gavin Ragnauth
Feasibility Study
Memo of Transmittal

27th November 2022

Mr. Gavin Ragnauth,

University of Guyana,
1 – 4 Settlement Public Road Tain,
East Berbice Corentyne,
Guyana.

Dear Mr. Ragnauth,

This document serves as an introduction to a proposed project idea entitled
“Project Electronic Voting” which is a requirement to the course CSE2101: Software
Engineering.

The purpose of the paper is to propose an electronic voting system in Guyana. The system would
have the ability to digitize the original processes of a General Election. We hope that it induces
your approval.

Yours Truly,
Jude Edwards,
Leader of Group 2.
Statement of Problem
Guyana is an 83,000 square mile country located on the North – East of South America that
borders the Atlantic Ocean. Every 5 years, a General Election is executed to decide on the
acquisition of a President and the National Assembly. However, during the time frame of the
elections, there always seems to be a state of pandemonium because of ‘fraudulent’ acts in the
counting of ballots. The 2020 elections are a prime example of such where chaos was spread
throughout the country due to rumors about a ‘rigged’ elections which resulted in riots and
further evolved into racial prejudice and fatalities. Stabroek News (6th March 2020), a news
agency in Guyana states “Protests over ‘rigged’ elections in Berbice and along East Coast”.
These major issues stemmed from the simple issue, the counting of ballots.

Overview of the Project

The focus for this feasibility study is the implementation process of an Electronic Voting System
in Guyana. Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is voting that uses electronic means to
either aid or take care of casting and counting ballots. The process strives to use the means of
Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machines (DRE). With a DRE machine, during Election
Day electors will show up to their respective polling stations. The elector will just push a button
next to their favored political party. The DRE machines will have a touch screen displaying the
ballot. After the election the DRE machine produces a tabulation of the voting data stored in a
removable memory component and/or as printed copy. The system may also allow for
transmission of individual ballots or vote totals to a central location. The result can then be
consolidated in one central place.

Statement of Purpose
This project’s primary objective is to alleviate the contingency of having fraudulent or a rigged
election process in Guyana.

Why is the Project Needed

A shift from a manual to an electronic electoral process is an expensive but worthy cause since
the world progressing through a technological era. Electronic voting systems are thought of as
more captivating which will encourage more individuals to take part in the General Elections. It
will also be a less tedious process which will be more effective and efficient saving time and
labor and ultimately reduce fraud and confusion.
Technical Feasibility
Technical Feasibility is an aspect of the TELOS model that helps businesses and organizations
determine if they have the technical resources necessary for the implementation of a project. This
will evaluate the methodologies of the creation of an expert system and to then determine
whether it can be executed using modernized technological tools. There are many technical
solutions that can be used to implement an e-voting system in Guyana such as Ballot marking
devices or Digital scanning.
In digital scanning, Ballots would be marked by the voter, and may either be scanned on
precinct-based optical scan systems in the polling place or collected in a ballot box to be scanned
at a central location.
Another alternative solution, Ballot marking is a tool that allows voters to mark paper ballots. A
tablet is typically used to display a voter's options. Unlike Direct Recording Machines, Ballot
marking does not store the voter's selections in memory. Instead, it gives the voter the option to
indicate their selections on-screen before printing the ballot. The printed paper ballot that results
is then either manually counted or manually counted by an optical scan machine. For those with
disabilities, BMDs are helpful.
However, DREs (Direct Recording Machines) will be used as the basis for this project.
While the others are more efficient and likely to yield better results, it is costly to implement and
would require a lengthy process just to cast a ballot. On an economical scale, direct recording
machines are cheaper to implement being a standalone machine with a user-friendly interface
that would allow electors to easily navigate the controls to choose their desired political party. It
can also be programmed to be used in multiple languages and can also allow people with
disabilities to vote increasing the number of electors during the General Elections.
Ultimately, Direct Recording Machines were the optimal choice because they offer the same
functionalities of both BMDs and Digital Scanning at a cheaper cost while also tackling the issue
at hand.

Economic Feasibility
The purpose of an economic feasibility study (EFS) is to demonstrate the net benefit of a
proposed project for accepting or disbursing electronic funds/benefits, taking into consideration
the benefits and costs to the agency, other state agencies, and the public. For this project we will
show a detailed report on the income and expenditure to conduct this project. This is done in
hope of determining if the project is economically feasible.
This project will be used throughout Guyana and will save the state a significant number of
finances it will also save both the state and the citizen time as it will be faster to tally votes. The
program will be maintained by a computer specialist hired by the state
 Table showing Expenditure

Items Amount Cost Total

Keyboard 2000 $400 * 2000 $80,000
Motherboard 2000 $6800*2000 $1,360,000
Monitor 2000 $2440*2000 $488,000
Voting Module 2000 $500*2000 $1,000,000
Results Module 2000 $650*2000 $1,300,000
Wires 10000 $5*10000 $50,000
Buttons 6000 $3*6000 $18000
Speakers 4000 $8*4000 $32000
Storage devices ( 2000 $2000*2000 $4,000,000
ROM& RAM)
Ports 2000 $1500*2000 $3,000,000
Battery & power 2000 $3600*2000 $7,200,000
Supple
Modems & antennas 4000 $300* 4000 $1,200,000
Electricity 15000 watts 150kWh * 4400 $660,000
Maintenance 5 persons 5* $50,000 $250,000

Total 20,638,000

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent conducting the election every year. This money is
allocated to personnel to manage and operate the voting process and count votes. This is a
tedious task and requires a lot of finances; this process would be much cheaper if it was
automated. With an automated process, we have contrast DRE or Direct Recording Electronic
Voting Machines. These machines will be used for voting. They consist of a display with an
interactive keyboard, buttons, a circuit, a power supply, and storage devices. Generally, these
parts are costly, but if sourced from China, we can get them cheaply wholesale. These machines
are replaced every ten years to be used for a maximum of two elections. They do need to be
maintain when not in used to remain functional.
Social Feasibility
A social feasibility study investigates how a project will affect society and how society will
affect the project. Such a study might, for instance, examine how the local social environment
will impact the potential availability of skilled workers or the suitability of locals for the project.
(Dahab, 2020)

It makes sense that voting will move to a digital platform as our lives move more and more
online. Although public elections have not yet adopted such techniques, some commercial
groups have quickly embraced electronic voting, allowing them to benefit from important
advantages.
The implementation of an electronic voting (e-voting) system will increase security, improve
accuracy, and lower costs. Voter participation and engagement will also rise as a result.
What are the Leading Benefits of Online Voting? (Yes Elections, 2020)
New employees, such as coders and engineers, will be required with the usage of an electronic
voting system. The cost of running the electronic voting system will be significantly low because
it will only need a small number of computer-skilled people, as opposed to the paper ballot
system. We won't have to settle for unofficial results obtained by the press while we wait days
for official election results. The network of voting machines will connect to compute the official
election results minutes after the polls close. Some people won't be familiar with the upgrading
and introduction to technology that comes with e-voting. Such a person should be educated so
that no one is excluded from voting. For that, it will be necessary to hire some personnel with an
acceptable level of computer expertise.
The researchers advise that in order to ensure user cooperation before modifications are
implemented, inform voters about the benefits: voting only requires a few clicks. Describe to the
people the simplicity and convenience of electronic voting to encourage them to vote. It's no
longer required to be present at the polls; instead, entice reluctant voters with simple
electronic voting or engaged people who don't have time on election day.
 Risk Assessment
Risk Type of Source Classification Effect of Risk Plan to minimize risk
Description Risk of Risk of Risk
Bugs in code Product Product Operational In the case of using proportional The code will be
may cause Risk Risk representation, inaccurate results reviewed system times
inaccurate may cause a party to lose/gain an and extensively tested
results imprecise number of seats in with small goals to
parliament. accurately determine if
each part is working as
intended.
System Failure Product Program Operational Suppose the system which is Before election day,
Risk Environ Risk used to run the program runs into all systems will be
ment an error that reduces its thoroughly checked
functionality or makes it and tested to ensure
function in a way that is not maximum
optimum. In that case, this may functionality.
delay the election process and
record data inaccurately.

Poor Person Persons Knowledge Since majority of voters are
knowledge of Risk Risk elderly, their knowledge of
computers computers may not be the best.
They may cause them to panic
when the computer reacts in a
way that they do not understand
and press random buttons. This
may change the program’s
functionality, inaccurate data
collection, and might even delete
the program altogether.
Consultant or Project Supplier Operational Since most of our material will
Contraction risk Risk be sourced from China, predict
delays delays may be a challenge. With
the long distance it makes it even
harder to determine when
materials will reach
The person will be
placed to ensure that
systems are used as
intended, and the
program will be
created so that only
the users cannot
interact with its core
coding.
Instead of transporting
the materials directly
from China to Guyana,
materials can be
shipped to the USA
then to Guyana. This
will reduce the long
distance and make it
easier to predict
unforeseen events
 Risk Description Type of Source of Classification Effect of Risk Plan to
Risk Risk of Risk minimize risk
An unexpected Project Developers Schedule risk can extend working hours, Complete
increase in the risk raising labor expenses, agreement on
project's scope lengthening project the product's
timeframes, and wearing down primary
employees. features and
optional
features
Inaccurate initial Project Developers Cost risk May lead to performance risk Before
budget calculation risk and schedule risk determining
how much it
will cost to
provide,
conduct
extensive
research,
gather all the
information
required, and
settle on the
key and any
additional
features.
Inadequate Project Developers Performance likely to be more vulnerable to Locate
programming risk Risk attacks and viruses personnel with
the required
experience and
skill set
Theft of material Material Staff Operational Material such as batteries and Secure area of
Risk Risk screen generally carry a high construction
price on the market. This may with locks and
motivate person to attempt to cameras. It is
steal this material and resell advisable to
them. always have a
guard to
reduce chances
of theft.
 Risk Type of Source Classification Effect of Risk Plan to minimize risk
Description Risk of Risk of Risk
Faulty Parts Product Physical Operational Faulty materials that are vital to Having multiple of the
Risk Damage Risk the machines can cause safety same part and careful
done to hazards during testing or result handling.
parts in a unreliable machine
Failure to Investmen Persons Operational After investing money into the A very precise plan
create t risk Risk project these is a possibility that will be created to
machines the operation does not goes accurately monitor
according to plan for example each step and make
the machine maybe construction sure construction goes
incorrectly resulting in wastage according to plan.
of money.

Software Quality Assurance Plan

A small presentation will be given to demonstrate how to properly control and utilize the core
functionality of the DRE machine. This will be done to show users how to use the machine and
to assurance them that it safe and is not harmful. This presentation will also explain the
anonymity of the machine which will give users a safe mind knowing that their choice will be
kept a secret. The machine will also be thoroughly checked for any malfunctions before putting
to use.
1. Make sure the machine is on – This is usually indicated by a green light located below
the screen or if the screen is on. Also, if sounds are heard when the button are pressed this
is also a good indication that the machine is on.
2. Press your thumb on the screen – beneath the screen is a fingerprint scanner, this
ensures that every have a fair chance of voting only once.
3. Select who you wish to vote for – click on the party which you want to vote for, the
machine should return to the home screen afterwards. If it does not contact the computer
specialist at the poll station.
Cost Estimation
Cost estimation simply means a technique that is used to estimate the costs for testing and
developing software. (GeeksforGeeks, 2022). Cost Estimation with ‘Project Electronic Voting’
used an Analogous Estimation approach in evaluating and estimating its costs.
What is Analogous Estimation?
In analogous estimation, a project manager calculates the expected costs of a project-based upon
the known costs associated with a similar project that was completed in the past. This method of
estimation relies upon a combination of historical data and expert judgment of the project
manager.
With relevance to ‘Project Electronic Voting’, little to no knowledge was known to the
researchers as to an electronic voting system being implemented in third world countries. As
such, research was conducted on similar projects with similar characteristics on an international
scale on countries who currently utilize an e-voting system. With that, the researchers were able
to readjust the costs of the initial project to suit the needs of their own.

Analogous Estimation for 'Project Electronic

80,000,000 Voting’
70,000,000
60,000,000
50,000,000
40,000,000
30,000,000
20,000,000
10,000,000
0
Project A Project B Project
Electronic Voting
Project Electronic Voting 20,638,000
Project B 22,450,000
Project A 71,667,500
Two similar Projects was implemented in two different areas. Project was taken from the cost to
replace the manual method of voting to an electronic one in New York. This approach saw the
machines being purchased which seemed to be expensive for implementation. Project B took a
similar approach with the only difference being that the parts for the machines were purchased
rather than the whole machine, which seemed to be more economical amounting to $22,000,000.
With this information, the researchers related ‘‘Project Electronic Voting’ more with Project B
and the cost being 20,000,000 excluding workmanships with the decrease being a variation in the
population size.

Schedule

Tasks Jan Feb March April

Requirement specification and

analysis
Design
Test Cases
Coding with unit testing
Testing
Documentation

Tasks Assigned to Start End Days Status

19th Nov, 24th Nov,

Technical feasibility Jude Edwards 2022 2022 6 Complete
20th Nov, 27th Nov,
Social feasibility Alvin Baldeo 2022 2022 8 Complete
Darrell 20th Nov, 26th Nov,
Economic feasibility Jagdeo 2022 2022 7 Complete
Jude, Alvin 26th Nov, 28th Nov,
Risk Assessment and Darrell 2022 2022 3 Complete
Software Quality Assurance Darrell 28th Nov, 01st Dec,
Plan Jagdeo 2022 2022 4 Complete
28th Nov, 01st Dec,
Cost Estimation Jude Edwards 2022 2022 4 Complete
28th Nov, 01st Dec,
Schedule Alvin Baldeo 2022 2022 4 Complete