Government Association supports Blockchain for elections

Washington, DC, August 3, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The 2020 US election was a painful display of a breakdown in public trust. Declining trust in elections threatens democratic institutions around the world, and it is imperative that we restore it in our democratic institutions.

US federal law requires foreign, military and disabled voters to have access to remote voting. States allow the use of email, fax or postal ballots. However, many of these methods used today lack the security required to maintain the integrity of election results. The most important thing to restore trust is to handle all ballots in a secure way, whether paper or electronic.

Susan Eustice, Chair of the Government Blockchain Association (GBA) Voting Working Group has a lifetime of experience in elections. Her father invented the first mechanical voting machine, and she has been a researcher in the field of elections and technology for over 60 years. Eustice stated, “The same technologies banks use to move trillions of dollars every day can be made private and secure enough for elections by adding blockchain technology.”

However, there are two reasons why mobile devices and blockchain are not typically used for federal elections:

– There is a concern that internet-connected systems cannot be made private and secure for elections.
– The standard used by laboratories to certify election systems is called the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (V VSG) published by the US Elections Assistance Commission (EAC). However, the VVSG prohibits election systems connected to the internet.

The GBA has issued two reports to address these issues.

– The GBA Voting Working Group reviewed V VSG and identified the changes needed to enable certification of Remote Accessible Ballot Delivery, Marking & Return (RABDMR). This contribution is offered to the EAC to revise the VVSG and include the use of blockchain and mobile devices for certification of election systems. Download the VVSG supplement for remote delivery marking and return of ballot papers (RABDMR).
– GBA gathered industry experts to debate digital remote voting at an event called Blockchain & Voting. Accordingly, the participants agreed to prepare a report comparing the functional and security considerations of available methods of remote ballot return. The report can be downloaded at Remote Election Technology Report

The work that the GBA has done and continues to do to support the use of blockchain technology, secure elections and public trust in public institutions is of the utmost importance. For more information visit www.GBAGlobla.org or contact [email protected].

Source: GBA

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