Although blockchain technology has a proven potential for storing and transferring data, it is rarely used in decision-making processes like elections.
To change that Denver, a city of Colorado, United States has decided to implement blockchain technology to assist in the upcoming elections.
This development has come as a result of the collaboration with Voatz and Tusk Philanthropies. The project aims to allow overseas voters, people on military duty and disabled people to vote easily as well as calculate and manage the storage of votes.
Voatz has previously conducted various pilot projects including state’s primary elections last year. Furthermore, the company has enabled more than fifteen-thousand voters in their biggest elections.
The voters will have to file an absentee ballot request and fulfill the verification process on the Voatz mobile application that will allow them to submit their votes between March 23 and May 7.
Through the app, the voters will not have to go to through the hassle of printing and submitting hard copies of their requests, which they would need for a regular absentee ballot. Moreover, through blockchain technology users will also be able to verify whether their ballot was recorded.
The National Cybersecurity Center (NCC) is also keen to work with the technology and hopes that it will increase the security of the elections as a whole.
Moreover, an official from NCC stated that this would enable in broadcasting the message that how innovative technologies like blockchain are introducing more security in the cyber sector.
The performance of this election can possibly attract many other states to use blockchain for similar needs. However, failure may also do the complete opposite.