According to local media reports, in order to modernize existing voting systems, Japanese authorities have introduced a blockchain voting system in the city of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. Japan was one of the first countries to decide to develop and test blockchain technology, but this is the first time that the technology has been used for such purposes.
The main purpose of the technology is to ensure the functioning of digital currencies, but there are many other applications. Data on the blockchain is distributed across several nodes, which store information in the blockchain and update it in real time. Thus, blockchain is unprofitable and very difficult to hack. Information is recorded in a secure and transparent way, so distributed ledger technology can be applied in smart contracts and in various financial and legal systems.
In the city of Tsukuba, authorities will allow voters to fill out ballots on a PC after verifying their identity through a 12-digit identification number (My Card). This number will give them access to the private blockchain and allow them to vote. Each individual number is then assigned to a voice, and the information is captured and stored decentralized in a peer-to-peer network. According to the city's website, this is to "prevent voter fraud and ensure privacy, and simplify the voting process."
While paper ballot voting systems remain the most common method of voting, some countries are trying to simplify the process. For example, Estonia became the first country to offer online voting, made possible by issuing national ID cards.
The use of blockchain technology can greatly simplify the voting process, but there are still a number of problems associated with its use to potentially replace government elections. For example, in Japan, many voters could not remember their voting passwords, making it difficult to tell whether their vote was counted.
Additionally, given the fact that blockchain is inherently decentralized, there still needs to be a central authority to ensure that only those eligible to vote vote, and each country has its own rules about this.
According to zdnet.com
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