In the digital age, our voting systems lag behind, but blockchain offers a transformative solution. Toney Jennings, CEO of EBI, discusses the potential for secure and accessible elections.
Considered by many as the cornerstone of American democracy, voting is a fundamental element of our society, but the Constitution doesn’t explicitly indicate how voters should cast their ballots. Advances in digital technology, like artificial intelligence (AI,) have paved the way for new and faster political messaging tools, yet our voting mechanisms have remained largely unchanged since the 1900s. As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, it serves as a reminder that we need to look towards a new, secure way to enable citizens to vote while ensuring their identities—the necessary technology is at our disposal. Still, there needs to be a political will to apply it at scale.
From Voices to Screens: The Legacy of Traditional Voting
In today’s digital age, we must reevaluate how we conduct our fundamental democratic process. It’s safe to say that we’ve strayed far from the days of voice voting when those with the right to vote would head to the local courthouse and cast their ballots out loud. Since then, we’ve seen many voting systems, from paper ballots to electronic voting machines, but they’ve historically missed the mark regarding efficiency, accessibility, and security.
For decades, voting has been synonymous with standing in line at polling stations, manually casting paper ballots, or sending absentee ballots via mail. While these methods have withstood the test of time, they are not without flaws—procedural challenges and accessibility issues, for instance, have plagued our traditional voting processes and ultimately discouraged voter turnout. A great example of this is the 2022 midterm elections, where two in five Americans claimed they could not get to the polls for various logistical concerns, including a lack of transportation, in-person voting requirements, or not knowing how/where to vote.
The ability to ensure the authenticity of each ballot cast has also played a monumental hand in the evolution of voting technology—from securing personal information collected during voter registration to the data gathered through social media for voter profiling. Most states still employ antiquated electronic voting and tabulation systems, many of which are no longer manufactured. Registration databases have proven no better, as they frequently run on unsupported software and risk exposure to a wealth of cyberattacks.
While some have spoken out and denounced the current state of voting, there remains an inertia amongst the majority of those in political office to spur change. Seemingly, the long-term capital investment that would be needed continues to take a backseat to anything other than short-term funding.
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The Promise of Blockchain-powered Elections
In recent years, blockchain technology has emerged as a potential game-changer for how Americans cast their ballots. In conjunction with other modern digital advancements, like AI, this technology could usher in a new era of secure voting technology that is accessible to all eligible voters, regardless of location. When compared with the current system, a few advantages of blockchain-powered elections are:
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- Immutable recordkeeping: When a vote is recorded, it becomes part of an unchangeable and transparent record, ensuring that no vote is tampered with.
- Decentralization: The technology’s decentralized architecture would also eliminate the need for internal authorities to oversee the voting process. Instead, ballots would be securely recorded on a distributed network of nodes, making it virtually impossible for any single entity to manipulate the results. This decentralization would safeguard against cyberattacks, as there is no single point of vulnerability for malicious actors to exploit.
- Identity verification: Identity verification is another critical aspect of secure elections. By implementing cryptographic keys, voters can be assured that their identities remain confidential while still being authenticated. This approach would protect voter privacy and ensure that only eligible individuals participate in the electoral process.
- Secure and efficient vote counting: Election officials can verify results more efficiently and with complete transparency. This expedites the declaration of results and instills confidence in the electoral process.
A New Dawn for American Democracy Is Upon Us, but Do We Want It?
The technology to revolutionize our voting system exists—internet voting or electronic ballot return is already being offered to overseas or military voters and, in some states, voters with disabilities. So, why is this technology not yet accessible to all?
There are valid concerns that online voting cannot match the level of security and secrecy that in-person or mail-in voting provides. For instance, a mail-in ballot or printed record of in-person voting serves as a voter-verified paper trail that enables officials to conduct audits and ensure election integrity. In contrast, online voting technology does not produce an adequate paper trail. If we ever want to drive this transformation forward, we need the will – collectively and politically – to refine and apply this technology at scale. But, for this to happen, policymakers and civic leaders must join forces with the private sector to embrace these modern technologies. We’re already seeing glimpses of the necessary collaboration. A great example is the recent work between voting equipment manufacturers and cybersecurity experts, as they teamed up to provide additional stress tests to voting systems before the 2024 Presidential Election.
The fact of the matter is that the majority of voters aren’t even aware this technology exists, and the few likely don’t realize or understand its capabilities. With that being said, this change cannot happen overnight—we must be willing to educate the public and invest in research, development, and rigorous testing to ensure that digital voting systems meet the highest standards of efficiency, accessibility, and security. Using blockchain and other technologies, we can build a voting system that not only safeguards the integrity of the democratic process but also maximizes the participation of eligible voters. Now is the time to fully consider this transformative technology and forge a path toward a more inclusive and secure electoral future.
How can blockchain enhance the voting experience? Why is it crucial for a secure electoral future? Let us know on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you!
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