I recently voted in a local election. I went up to the booth with the friendly retirees, told them my name and showed my ID. They had me sign on their list and directed me to a curtained electronic board. I made my selections and pressed the “Vote” button. All the lights on the machine turned off and it gave a satisfying sound signifying that my vote was cast. I have absolutely no idea if it was or if it was all just for show. I cannot go online to see if my vote counted or what my vote was. I got a sticker. There is absolutely no verification process for elections in my area. And that’s a problem.

The truth is our elections across the US are a hot mess and I have absolutely no faith in the system. Last year a poll showed that only 20 percent of the population were “very confident about the system” down from 37 percent the previous year.

Existing voting systems do leave plenty of room for suspicion: voter impersonation is theoretically possible; mail-in votes can be altered or stolen; election officials might count inaccurately; and nearly every electronic voting machine has proved hackable. Not surprisingly, a Gallup poll published prior to the 2016 election found a third of Americans doubted votes would be tallied properly.

And there are more than enough morally compromised power-hungry people to take advantage of the weaknesses in the system through that fraud.

What is the Blockchain?

If we are to have any semblance of a secure election process, we must implement a blockchain-based system. Trying to balance privacy with election integrity is difficult, but it can be done with the technology we have right now and there are even systems running right now that utilize some of these features.

First off, what is the blockchain?

The blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger technology that allows for secure, transparent, and immutable recording of transactions. It operates as a continuously growing list of blocks, where each block contains a set of transactions. These transactions are cryptographically linked and validated by a network of computers, known as nodes, which collectively maintain and verify the integrity of the blockchain.

One of the key features of blockchain is its decentralized nature. Unlike traditional centralized systems where a central authority controls and verifies transactions, blockchain relies on a distributed network of nodes that work together to validate and record transactions. This decentralization provides greater transparency, as transactions can be viewed and audited by anyone on the network, ensuring trust and eliminating the need for intermediaries.

Security is another crucial aspect of blockchain. Transactions on the blockchain are secured using cryptographic algorithms, making it extremely difficult to alter or tamper with the data. Each block in the chain contains a unique identifier, called a hash, which is generated based on the contents of the block and the hash of the previous block. This cryptographic linkage ensures that any changes to a block would require altering subsequent blocks, making it computationally infeasible and providing a high level of security.

These features make the blockchain—in conjunction with other technologies—perfect to provide for secure, legitimate elections.

Registration

First, eligible voters would register their biometric data, such as their fingerprints or facial recognition, with the election authorities. This biometric data would be stored on the blockchain, ensuring that it is secure and cannot be tampered with. This data would then be used to identify the voter when they cast their vote.

Identification

Elections could take place over a span of several days or one day. It could be done in person or remotely and identification would be ensured through the same biometric data used during registration.

When it is time to vote, voters would log into the blockchain-based voting platform using their biometric data. The voting platform would then present the voter with the candidates and issues they are eligible to vote for.

Voatz does this already: “Our app uses facial recognition technology to verify your identity, then pairs it to your phone’s security PIN or biometric key. This maintains voter privacy, and your data is never stored or shared.”

Voting

A blockchain is a public ledger that is copied on multiple dispersed servers to ensure accuracy. It is the gold-standard of technology-based accounting. Entries cannot be tampered with or changed as the blockchain is immutable.

When it’s time to vote, voters would enter their selections and the vote would be recorded on the blockchain as a transaction. This transaction would contain a unique hash that would be connected to their biometric data stored on a separate server, their vote, and the time and date of the vote. The vote would be secured on the blockchain using end-to-end encryption as in the US Vote Foundation system, ensuring that it is tamper-proof and transparent.

Verification/Auditing

After the election (or even during it), the votes would be counted, and the results would be available for everyone to see on the blockchain. Each voter would have a hash in order to see specifically what he or she voted for. The blockchain is also public so that anyone can audit the aggregate data. Elections recorded on the blockchain would be as transparent as possible and we wouldn’t have to rely on dubious news services for the numbers that flip or are averaged. This transparency would help to prevent election fraud and increase public trust in the election process.

Considerations

However, there are still some challenges to overcome in implementing a blockchain election system. One of the main challenges is ensuring that everyone has access to the technology required to participate in the election. This could be addressed by providing free access to the necessary hardware and software, or by providing assistance to those who do not have access to the required technology. If we required voters to go to a polling location as is the current protocol, this wouldn’t be an issue.

Another challenge is ensuring that the blockchain election system is secure from attacks. This could be addressed by using multiple layers of security, including biometric data, encryption, and other security measures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a blockchain election system using biometric data for registration and identification has the potential to revolutionize the way we conduct elections. By providing transparency, security, and efficiency, such a system could increase public trust in the election process and help to prevent election fraud. While there are challenges to overcome, the benefits of a blockchain election system are significant, and it is worth exploring further as a potential solution to the challenges of modern elections.