Blockchain Voting: Why is this not a Thing?

Blockchain has been promoted in virtually every area of our life these days, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Although it is still primarily used for cryptocurrencies, there are other possible usages of this new technology. Generally, elections are conducted using the paper based system which comes with its many downsides such as time consumption, deforestation, and loss of information. Although the disadvantages related to paper type voting are easily dealt with using digital based systems of voting, even the digital based process lacks the level of credibility and transparency. Even though E-voting is believed to be more credible, with single point of attack hacks and external interference is possible.

Blockchain voting on the other hand solves all of those problems.It comes with a very reasonable level of data security and also ensures that only eligible individuals participate in voting. Double voting or other voting frauds are not possible when using this new systems.

Is Blockchain Voting Feasible?

Sierra Leone was actually the first country to ‘host’ their elections with the help of this new technology. While the elections didn’t actually take place on the blockchain, votes from West District were later manually entered into public ledger for transparency reasons and technology testing. As such, public ledger was shown as potentially useful voting mechanism.

Slovenia, which is about to open worldwide crypto shopping city, also had their own experiment with blockchain voting, which took place on ethereum testnet with a support of Principle network. While it was not official and only 1.891 residents voted, system has shown it’s potential in future usage. With only 51% turnout on elections, among which many youngsters didn’t vote, blockchain enabled voting could be a solution for higher voting rate, as it is easier and more convenient.

Zug, Swiss city that is already testing ethereum-based digital IDs is also planning on having blockchain vote on their new application called uPort. While the vote will again not be official, it would provide local authorities with real life testing environment to test immutability, testability and traceability. They want to achieve fair vote while maintaining voters anonymity.

The trend has also gotten to US, in Virginia particularly, there are plans being put in place to make absent military voters cast their votes using a mobile application that runs on blockchain technology. In Columbia, blockchain voting was carried out during the peace plebiscite votes in 2016. This was conducted in order to test the effect of blockchain technology in electoral practices, and also to give expatriates a voice in the peace votes.

Blockchain voting uses technology of public ledger to provide security, anonymity and accuracy in elections. Information related to the either electoral candidates or voters is kept away from the prying eyes of the public. Accuracy is guaranteed because blockchain runs on mathematical algorithm that automatically accumulated and calculate the inputed data without any errors. Technology can also process big data — structured and unstructured data, hence, there’s really no need to depend on fallible ‘accuracy’ of human election process. Blockchain voting has proven to be viable, as more organizations and countries are continually testing the technology in election process.

Challenges of Blockchain Voting System

There are few obstacles limiting the widespread of blockchain voting system.

• Internet access is required for blockchain voting, which may not available in third-world countries.
• Blockchain voting requires experts knowledge to setup the servers and software.
• The level of technical illiteracy in third world countries might make blockchain voting technology almost useless since average adults in such countries may not be able to understand the process.

Even as blockchain enthusiasts may want to make excuses for this, blockchain technology can also been hacked, we have seen recent hacks in Japan’s crypto sector, such as Coincheck hack, hence if the expertise level of blockchain technology architects is not intense then, the voting results can be rigged.

However, election results lack credibility in many states of the world, particularly in African states, where election results are often manipulated by authorized or unauthorized personnel’s. While there are no technical barriers for blockchain voting, as shown in real life examples, there is still the lack of will or trust from authorities to move old school systems, like voting, on at least blockchain enabled system.