- Blockchain-based voting systems have been proposed as a secure and transparent alternative to traditional voting
- Concerns over technical vulnerabilities, scalability, and voter privacy have hindered large-scale adoption
- As America goes to the polls, how far away are we from blockchain-based voting?
Blockchain-based voting systems have promised greater transparency and security in elections, leveraging the distributed ledger technology to create tamper-proof records. Several projects have sprung up in the past seven years or so, some with moderate success, but significant concerns remain that have hindered widespread adoption. As America goes to the polls, we ask why they aren’t doing it on the blockchain.
The Promise of Blockchain Voting
Blockchain technology has been heralded as a transformative force in many sectors, including voting. Advocates argue that a blockchain-based voting system could eliminate voter fraud and ensure transparency due to the immutable nature of blockchain ledgers.
Each vote, once cast and verified, becomes a permanent entry on the blockchain, making tampering nearly impossible.
Japan, Russia, Thailand and the US have trialed blockchain voting systems, with West Virginia, Utah and Oregon using the technology to cast votes in local and even national elections.
Security and Privacy Concerns
Despite its promise, blockchain voting has faced significant scrutiny over potential vulnerabilities. While blockchain is often lauded for its security, researchers have pointed out that no system is immune to cyberattacks. Issues like network vulnerabilities or potential 51% attacks, where a majority could theoretically control the blockchain, pose real risks.
In November 2020, following the US elections, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a report which warned that blockchain voting platforms were “ripe” for “serious failures,” including attackers altering already cast votes and hacking the infrastructure, causing elections to be entirely re-run.
Maintaining voter privacy while ensuring verifiability is also seen as a major technical challenge to blockchain voting.
Regulatory and Logistical Barriers
Beyond technical challenges, regulatory and logistical hurdles have also slowed the rollout of blockchain voting. Governments and electoral bodies must adapt legal frameworks to integrate blockchain technology, which can be a lengthy process.
The cost and infrastructure required to deploy such a system at scale are also significant, and the advantages of doing so have to be worth the outlay. As we have already seen with the Dominion voting machine hoax, if existing technology can be blamed for unfavourable results, then brand new, untested technology will inevitably bear the brunt of one side’s failure.
The idea of blockchain-based voting continues to attract interest as a potential solution to modern voting challenges. However, the mix of technical issues, privacy concerns, and regulatory complexities has meant that it remains largely experimental. While small pilot projects have been attempted, broader adoption will likely require substantial advancements in both technology and policy.
