diff --git a/e-voting-system/MULTINODE_SETUP.md b/e-voting-system/MULTINODE_SETUP.md
index 4a7c9e0..5f89273 100644
--- a/e-voting-system/MULTINODE_SETUP.md
+++ b/e-voting-system/MULTINODE_SETUP.md
@@ -55,12 +55,11 @@ docker-compose -f docker-compose.multinode.yml ps
 |-----------|-----|---------|
 | **Frontend** | http://localhost:3000 | Voting interface |
 | **Load Balancer** | http://localhost:8000 | Routes to all backend nodes |
-| **Node 1 Direct** | http://localhost:8001 | Direct access to node 1 |
-| **Node 2 Direct** | http://localhost:8002 | Direct access to node 2 |
-| **Node 3 Direct** | http://localhost:8003 | Direct access to node 3 |
 | **API Docs** | http://localhost:8000/docs | API documentation |
 | **Database UI** | http://localhost:8081 | Database management (Adminer) |
 
+**Note**: Backend nodes are internal to the Docker network and only accessible through Nginx load balancer on port 8000. This is more efficient and prevents port conflicts.
+
 ## How It Works
 
 ### Load Balancing
diff --git a/e-voting-system/docker-compose.multinode.yml b/e-voting-system/docker-compose.multinode.yml
index 128153c..c91f4e1 100644
--- a/e-voting-system/docker-compose.multinode.yml
+++ b/e-voting-system/docker-compose.multinode.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ services:
       start_period: 40s
 
   # ================================================================
-  # Backend Node 1 (Port 8001)
+  # Backend Node 1 (Internal Port 8000, No external binding)
   # ================================================================
   backend-node-1:
     build:
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ services:
       DEBUG: ${DEBUG:-false}
       PYTHONUNBUFFERED: 1
       NODE_ID: node1
-      NODE_PORT: 8001
-    ports:
-      - "8001:8000"
+      NODE_PORT: 8000
+    expose:
+      - "8000"
     depends_on:
       mariadb:
         condition: service_healthy
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ services:
       start_period: 40s
 
   # ================================================================
-  # Backend Node 2 (Port 8002)
+  # Backend Node 2 (Internal Port 8000, No external binding)
   # ================================================================
   backend-node-2:
     build:
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ services:
       DEBUG: ${DEBUG:-false}
       PYTHONUNBUFFERED: 1
       NODE_ID: node2
-      NODE_PORT: 8002
-    ports:
-      - "8002:8000"
+      NODE_PORT: 8000
+    expose:
+      - "8000"
     depends_on:
       mariadb:
         condition: service_healthy
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ services:
       start_period: 40s
 
   # ================================================================
-  # Backend Node 3 (Port 8003)
+  # Backend Node 3 (Internal Port 8000, No external binding)
   # ================================================================
   backend-node-3:
     build:
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ services:
       DEBUG: ${DEBUG:-false}
       PYTHONUNBUFFERED: 1
       NODE_ID: node3
-      NODE_PORT: 8003
-    ports:
-      - "8003:8000"
+      NODE_PORT: 8000
+    expose:
+      - "8000"
     depends_on:
       mariadb:
         condition: service_healthy