When it comes to politics, blockchain is the talk of the town. A number of governments from around the world have decided to place the voting process on a blockchain. This is to help voters feel more confident that elections aren’t rigged as the media so frequently claims. Russia has already implemented a blockchain voting system and will likely be using it in the upcoming elections. Interestingly, Japan has followed suit and introduced a similar voting system, however Japan’s has only been used for voting on charitable donations so far.
America has now stepped up to the plate and is ready to score a home run with its very own blockchain voting system. It’s being trialed in West Virginia during the midterm elections and promises to make the voting process quick, easy, and scandal-free – something Trump is possibly looking forward to.
Colorado Demands More
On the campaign trail, Jared Polis – candidate for the governorship of Colorado – has said multiple times that he wants to see a blockchain voting system implemented statewide to stop votes being rigged and to give all citizens a fair say. Polis is a staunch blockchain supporter and if he wins the race in Colorado we can expect to see big things happening in the state’s blockchain industry.
Risks of Centralization
While blockchain technology is great, is does have a few drawbacks. It is designed to be decentralized, meaning that nobody can alter what is written to the blockchain, but if one entity controls more than half of the blockchain’s power then it becomes centralized – this is also known as a 51% attack. If governments use a blockchain, but control all the verification nodes on the network, then it’s essentially a centralized online voting system. This would make election rigging much easier, as it requires less manpower – it could even be executed automatically with a smart contract.
Overseas Voters
West Virginia’s blockchain voting system is primarily designed for its citizens that live overseas – such as expats and military personnel. Previously, these people would not be able to vote in the elections or would have to travel back to America to cast their votes, and this stirred up a lot of controversy during the previous election.
While blockchain voting systems still require a bit of work to become perfect, if properly executed they could change the course of history and put an end to questionable election results. Every vote would be publicly verifiable and this would crown the next president the undisputed president of America in a fair way.
