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Suppose Alice wants to convince Bob that ciphertext c = (a, b) = (gr, m*hr) is some properly encrypted plaintext (not just random numbers). Obviously she can use zk-proof of discrete logarithm knowledge for the first part of the ciphertext (a = gr). But what can she do with b-part?

One of my ideas: if m belongs to subgroup G (with a generator g) than we should prove that b belongs to G. But it's just a new problem.

Alice can also use exponential ElGamal (c = (gr, gm * hr)) if it makes things easier.

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  • $\begingroup$ One can use the same response for $r$ (part of the proof) for two proofs about both parts of the ciphertext. "Some $r$ exists" seems somewhat general; practical cases may include something like "and $m$ is either $g$ or $1$" (0 or 1 for the second variant). Will you refine your "properly" condition? $\endgroup$ Nov 17, 2018 at 16:13

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Actually, an ElGamal ciphertext $(a,b)$ is "valid" iff $(a,b) \in G^2$, because for any message $m\in G$ and any $\mathsf{pk}\in G$, the encryption of $m$ will be in $G^2$, because for any $r$, $(g^r,\mathsf{pk}^r\cdot m)\in G^2$, and any $(a,b)$ chosen in $G^2$ can be correctly decrypted by any secret key by computing $m=\frac{b}{a^\mathsf{sk}}$. The proof of knowledge of the random coin $r$ is sufficient to show that you know how the ciphertext was produced.

I do not know if that answers your problem.

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