Oddbean new post about login | logout Blockchain-based voting sounds like a good idea. It would provide for more accurate tabulation, and the ability to accurately audit down to the individual voter. And maybe most important of all, it would restore confidence in the integrity of our elections. Are there any reasoned criticisms of such a system?
Sounds good in theory, but you still need to verify each person corresponds to specific public key, right?
I think that could be easily handled during the voter registration process. For example, you could do your voter registration at the DMV like we do now, but instead of just checking a box on the form, the DMV would issue you a card with your keys, as well as a QR code for easy scanning at the polling location. And I think there are other similar options that could be used to both verify the eligibility of the voter, and issue the keys they need to actually vote.
Would definitely be an improvement. I think there was somewhere that did it already using bitcoin.
first how do you establish identity? one verified voter identity oer private key, right? and even if you can, people cant even be trusted to control their private keys when its their families wealth. with the apathy around voting whats to prevent "custodial voting solutions" from evolving? not to mention just the realistic possibility of large scale basic private key security. considering the logistical and educational hurdles we're still better off with paper ballots
People are able to keep track of their drivers license or ID card. I think I'm envisioning a process where identity is verified during registration, and a card similar to a drivers license is issued that has a photo and works like a voter ID, and maybe on the back side is a QR code for easy scanning at the polling location, as well as a 12-word code that could be used to verify the identity if the voter chooses to use mail-in or drop-off voting. And I'm just spitballing and thinking of ways to both improve the accuracy and integrity of the vote, and facilitate confidence in the process. I'm not really proposing a specific system at this point.
not sure how this different than what we have now maybe the problems are in establishing identity and registration? and not on the technical side of how votes are recorded.
In my experience, most of the complaints relate to ID verification, and auditability. And a lot of those complaints involve a misunderstanding of how the current system actually works. I think if you centralize registration at the DMV, which is already in the business of verifying identity, that would ensure that the correct voter keys are issued to the correct, verified voter. They could issue a voter ID card with a photo and appropriate voter information, as well as a QR code to be scanned at in-person voting centers, and something like a seed phase that could be entered on mail ballots confirm the eligibility and identity of the voter. Mail-in and drop-box ballots are inherently paper ballots, and a paper receipt could be generated at in-person voting centers to both assure the voter that their correct selections were submitted, and as a physical backup that could be used along with the mail ballots to perform a hand audit if necessary.
The main criticism of blockchain-based voting and online voting in general is that you can’t guarantee the secrecy of the vote. People could be coerced/pressured to vote for a candidate they don’t support or vote could be more easily bought. I think blockchain based voting is a good idea for transparency and auditability but the vote should still take place in person in the voting booth.
I'm not envisioning online voting. I'm talking about in-person, and mail/drop-box voting like we have now. In general, I think the process that currently exists is effective. But there are some relatively simple changes we can make to better inform the public as to how the process works, and how it ensures an accurate tabulation. Additionally, I think there are some changes on the backend we could make to ensure greater fraud protection, and facilitate the rapid and accurate auditing post election to guarantee an accurate contest, and instill confidence in the voters that the election was fair, and the results are accurate.
Mail-in ballots have the same problem of lack of vote secrecy and potential for vote buying that online voting has. The main problems I see with the #ElectionIntegrity process in the US are: mail-in voting (forbidden in most western democracies), tampered/inaccurate voter rolls, opaque electronic counting of the votes, lack of ID verification (in some states). If blockchain-based solution can fix these, that’s great but so far wether US is still a long way to prove that their elections are secured and honest.
What about the current system of mail-in ballots in place in many states?
I was telling my wife about this very thing during Election Day. Much better system. But you know it would proof authenticity of results and the deep state not about that.
What I'm thinking about is an upgraded system that adheres to the basic process that we have now. It involves a voter ID, and a Blockchain-based voting system that provides accuracy and transparency. Also, a comprehensive education program that fully informs the people of exactly how the system works to accurately and reliably tabulate votes while providing assurance that the results are legitimate, and not manipulated. I think a lot of the problems we have now are the result of a failure to properly inform voters as to how the system works, and provide opportunities for people to ask questions, and get relevant, honest answers.
Seems like vote secrecy is the big issue. I’m assuming you’d get a private key when you registered to vote. So one issue is guaranteeing that the agency that issued you the private key didn’t keep a record of it and in doing so, the ability to generate your public key and uncover your vote. Additionally, in situations where your private key was compromised and someone else voted with it as well as you (i.e., a double spend of your vote) you would have to reveal your public key to rectify the issue which would again void the secrecy of your vote.