The world changes every day, and societies also become increasingly complex. However, technological advances also evolve to help us solve everyday problems. One of these examples is happening in India. Here, citizens can cast votes from outside their registration city thanks to a system based on blockchain technology.
According to Times India on February 13, the Chief Election Commissioner in India, Sunil Arora, said the country hopes to increase voter participation with a voting solution based on blockchain technology.
The use of Blockchain as a solution to a common problem
You want to eliminate lost votes, and that’s why Blockchain is used this time. What happens is that during last year’s elections, 300 million eligible voters did not vote because they were not politically engaged or far from their registered constituency. This is the number according to Arora.
Another important factor in this country is that it has more than 450 million migrants who move for work, education or marriage, but can only do so temporarily. This means that most do not re-register in a new district.
Who is behind this Blockchain project?
In this case, regulatory bodies are those who are collaborating with the Indian Institute of Technology to develop a Blockchain system that allows citizens to vote remotely.
It is expected that it can be launched before 2021. Additionally, according to Arora, there is a pending proposal with the Ministry of Justice to link voter identifications and the Aadhaar citizens’ identification system. This also seeks to avoid the issuance of multiple votes.
Is Blockchain technology the way to go for world voting?
Well, just as this type of proposal receives support, it also receives many criticisms. Especially, opponents of these proposals are those who fear the possible actions of hackers. Therefore, it is these people who continue to prefer slightly more traditional options such as ballot voting.
For this, many cybersecurity experts remain working day and night throughout the world. However, for now existing systems continue to present vulnerabilities.
Even so, many argue that Blockchain is the way to go and can make the elections fraud proof. Former US presidential candidate Andrew Yang said in August last year that he planned to implement the Blockchain-based mobile vote if he won the election.
We hope to see more examples in which technology begins to be considered as a tool to overcome barriers and obstacles in our societies. In addition, it generates some optimism to see the amount of equipment and people working to improve and reduce the vulnerabilities of this system.
Degree in Liberal Studies from the Metropolitan University. Lover of innovation and believer of technology for the future.
Related
