A group of researchers from the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3) said that, contrary to a popular belief, the blockchain won’t help in improving the voting system - both in the U.S., where there are various problems in this area, and in general. In fact, experts say, the blockchain may exacerbate existing flaws.
In an article published by Business Insider, Ari Juels, Ittay Eyal, and Oded Naor point out four main reasons for the incompatibility between the blockchain and the electoral system.
The first reason is the vulnerability of computers and the Internet. Computers can fail, they can be destroyed, they can be accessed by intruders and distort the voting data. The mere possibility of such a scenario undermines trust, the basis of any electoral system.
Scientists have even compared the Internet voting system with the drunk driving practice, citing a cryptographer and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ronald Rivest, who drew parallels between these phenomena.
Internet interruptions can prevent people from voting. If not updated on time, systems are vulnerable to hacker attacks. But even with regular updates, IC3 experts advise not to take risks, because an unknown vulnerability could jeopardize the entire system.
According to them, cyber-criminals are constantly developing new methods to break in, and a computerized vote can give them an excellent opportunity to attack.
The third factor that causes concern to researchers is the fact that the voting system on the blockchain relies not on people, but on technical devices. Although the blockchain is able to reliably account the vote, there is a risk that the infected device will change the choice of the voter before the data is recorded in the registry:
“If your phone is infected with malware that switches your vote from Candidate R to Candidate D, it doesn’t matter how secure the rest of the voting system is – the election has still been hacked,” the publication says.
Some creators of the newest online voting platforms do not open its code to the public. Thus, an independent party is not able to conduct an audit and examine the system until it starts to work.
Finally, the last warning of IC3 experts concerns the possible purchase of the votes. Now, harsh punishments and a secret ballot system hinder the bribing of voters, but the expression of will on the network can make it much easier for criminals. Moreover, bribes can come in untraceable cryptocurrencies. It would be also difficult to prosecute foreign cyber-criminals who distort data or bribe voters. But the person who voted, including the bona fide ones, can be revealed by the blockchain.
Meanwhile, Internet voting is already working in some countries. Thus, recently, the blockchain-based mobile system was launched in the state of West Virginia. It allows the soldiers who are on military bases outside the country to vote.
Secretary of State Mac Warner claims that the application has reliably and successfully passed the tests, including the code audit. Security measures include biometrics and facial recognition techniques.
Switzerland is also experimenting with online voting systems and evaluates the results positively. In July this year, a test vote was held on the blockchain in Zug. Authorities warned beforehand that its results would not be binding. At the same time, almost all participants in the experiment (69 of 72) called the new method convenient. Twenty-two people said they were ready to use a digital ID to participate in social surveys and pay taxes, 19 people would like to pay for parking with it.
Just recently, the head of the Russian Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova has voiced her support of introducing blockchain into the electoral processes, Russian news agency TASS reported Saturday, October 22.
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