Experimental quantum voting using photonic GHZ states

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates an experimental quantum voting protocol using four-partite GHZ states, ensuring voter privacy and secure recording with high fidelity and success rate.

Contribution

It is the first experimental implementation of a quantum voting protocol that guarantees voter anonymity using photonic GHZ states.

Findings

GHZ states generated with approximately 89% fidelity

Voters' intentions recorded with approximately 87% success rate

Secure and anonymous voting achieved in a four-party quantum election

Abstract

Quantum communication protocols seek to leverage the unique properties of quantum systems for coordination or communication tasks, usually with guarantees of security or anonymity that exceed what is possible classically. One promising domain of application is elections, where strong such guarantees are essential to ensure legitimacy. We experimentally implement a recently proposed election protocol from Centrone et al. such that no one, including a potential central authority, can know the preferred candidate of any voter other than themself. We conduct a four-party election, generating and distributing four-partite GHZ states with $\approx 89\%$ fidelity and successfully recording voters' intentions $\approx 87\%$ of the time.