The elections held in West Virginia were experimentally conducted on a blockchain platform. State residents overseas in 29 countries voted via their mobile devices. The government's pilot project was the first to use a combination of smartphones, facial recognition and blockchain technology to ensure voting participation for those living and working abroad.
West Virginia is the first state to use blockchain for voting. If the technology becomes widely adopted, it will reduce long lines at voting booths and increase the number of voters participating in elections. Overall, approximately 300,000 American voters are overseas but unable to support their candidate in the election, which experts say has a serious impact on the democratic process. The pilot project opens up serious prospects, while at the same time leaving open security issues of voting on the blockchain.
Technical support for voting was provided by the Voatz company, which has already tested blockchain voting technology in small elections to student councils. Now the company has conducted the largest and most serious test within the state.
Voatz notes that the company does not store identification data after confirming a voter's identity and cannot see for whom the voter voted. Blockchain avoids tampering with recorded information and stores votes until county clerks release them after the polls close. Moreover, to control the accurate display of information, the voting results are printed and the voter receives one copy of his ballot, and the second is stored in the state administration for control and audit.
After the vote count is completed, several independent audit commissions will begin their work to provide a professional opinion on the security and efficiency of the voting system on the blockchain. The further implementation of this technology throughout the country depends on their expert assessments, which are expected in the spring.
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