Voting on the Blockchain in the U.S.

There are many consensus methods that could be used, proof of Authority is a strong possibility, due to the fact that it uses very little energy and can be regulated by the government. (Valente) However, while PoA has its benefits, it also comes with its drawbacks which include: no decentralization and difficulties with use on a large scale involving the public. Importantly, PoA is very easy and inexpensive to upscale. PoA is used in the banking sector or in private blockchains due to the validators having the power to confirm and deny transactions.

An alternative to Proof of Authority is Proof of Work. PoW provides decentralization and large scale compatibility, which are benefits that PoA does not provide. A decentralized blockchain would be ideal, because it provides extra security, resulting in a better defense against hackers. Alongside decentralization, PoW is also compatible at a large scale, with Bitcoin being the largest blockchain using this consensus method. (Decentralized)

If a voting blockchain used PoW, then the validators would be miners, and virtually anyone could become a miner. However, in Switzerland, a handful of government nodes from each Kanton are selected. These validators will validate the transactions or the “votes”. By allowing the government to have the validating power, provides more security, than if anyone could be a validator. (Allen) In addition to the government validators, citizens could sign up to become validators who will put their freedom and assets such as a house on the line, to ensure their truthfulness. These people could sign up and register a node that would act as a validator. With these additional nodes spread throughout the country, the system would become more decentralized, and therefore more secure. On the other hand, with the inclusion of the public, there will always be a risk of a citizen validator using their position to cause harm. Ultimately, people should find the system more trustworthy if citizens are included because in 2022, only 20% of the U.S. population had trust in the federal government to do the right thing. With the inclusion of regular citizens, people may feel that the system is “in the hands and control of the people”, incentifying and strengthening the idea of voting on the blockchain. (Bell)

The consensus method plays a crucial role in the type of security the blockchain voting can offer. However, transparency and user friendliness is also equally important because the person voting must be able to understand how to vote, and how to do it correctly.

In Switzerland, Citizens who opt to vote through the blockchain will receive their voting card in the mail. This piece of paper will contain a long string of characters that are unique to the individual which they will then enter into the app in order to confirm their identity. Once the code has been entered the person can cast their ballot.