Are Blockchain Voting Systems the Way of the Future for Election Procedures? Let’s Explore!
Did you know Estonia has been a pioneer in implementing blockchain voting for national elections? In the 2023 elections, for the first time, more than half of the votes were cast online, with over 313,000 people voting electronically. (Source)
Blockchain technology’s immutability, transparency, and security make it an ideal foundation for distributed governance and voting initiatives. The surprise is that there is a growing research interest in using a blockchain voting system for electoral polls.
Are you getting interested in the same? Do you wish to dig deeper? Read this blog and you will explore how the blockchain voting system works. And what are the benefits that tag along?
Why Do We Need a Blockchain Voting System?
“According to the MDPI article published in 2023, a detailed review of the existing research on e-voting systems that utilize blockchain technology.” It shows the benefits, challenges, and future direction of blockchain-based e-voting.
If you consider traditional voting systems, such as ballot box voting or electronic voting, they have challenges. They pose more security threats, such as voting tampering, malware, and polling booth manipulation.
Apart from this, traditional systems require significant resources, just like time, paper, and human labor. The inefficiency breeds distrust in the current process.
Here are some of the key problems:
- Long queue during elections.
- Security breaches like data leaks and voting manipulations.
- High paperwork demand, which makes it more time-consuming and less eco-friendly.
- Accessibility issues for different abled voters or those who are living abroad.
- High election expenses.
What are the Best Principles of Voting?
1. Secret Ballot: Your vote is confidential with no traceable link to your identity.
2. One man, one vote: Every eligible voter can cast only one vote. The total number of votes should match the number of voters.
3. Voter Eligibility: Only qualified voters can participate.
4. Transparency: The voting process is clearly defined with rules open to the public.
5. Accurate Board Counting & Monitored: Votes must be accurately counted and auditable.
6. Reliability: Safeguards ensure accuracy and protect against fraud or system failure.
How Does a Blockchain Voting System Work?
1. Voter Registration
This is the process where voters need to download a blockchain voting application.
The voter verification will ascertain that the individual has the eligibility to vote, which might require them to submit identity proof documents and undergo a digital verification process to prevent fraud or multiple registrations.
2. Credential Inscription and Storage
Once the registration process is complete, the blockchain network issues a unique set of credentials to each voter. These credentials are encrypted and safely stored through the blockchain's cryptographic technology.
The inscription makes sure that the identity of the voter remains anonymous while still keeping the voting process transparent and secure. Voter credentials are stored using a public key, which allows them to assess the voting system without revealing their personal information.
3. Ballet Token
Once confirmed, a digital ballot token is issued to each voter in their digital wallet. This token represents the right to vote and is unique to each voter.
4. Casting the Vote
On Election Day, a voter uses a ballot token to vote. They do this by sending the token to the wallet address of the candidate or party they wish to vote for. Each wallet address is linked to a particular candidate or choice in the ballot next line since each token represents one.
5. Vote Numbering and Verification
After the voting period ends, the blockchain network automatically tallies the votes. The vote count is transparent and can be verified by anyone by checking the token balance at each candidate's address.
What are the Advantages of a Blockchain Voting System?
1. Convenience and Accessibility
Voters can cast their vote from home via computer or phone, which reduces physical barriers and encourages high voter turnouts, especially for those with disabilities or living overseas.
2. Error Reduction
Unlike traditional systems that depend on manual counting and human oversight, blockchain voting ensures vote accuracy. Voters can track their anonymous vote on the network in real-time.
3. Less Electoral
Blockchains and their decentralized nature make fraud nearly impossible. Manipulating the network would need a lot of computational resources and fraudulent activities.
4. Increase Efficiency
Remove the need for manual vote counting or extensive polling infrastructure. Organizers can see real-time results directly from the blockchain, which costs and speeds up the process.
Conclusion
The blockchain voting system has the potential to revolutionize the way elections are conducted. By addressing the flaws of the traditional voting system, it promises a future with greater transparency, security, and efficiency. While the technology isn't without challenges, its benefits are hard to ignore.
Ready to explore how chaining and blockchain voting can revolutionize your governance or electoral process?
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