The Rise of Blockchain Voting
As technology creeps into every nook and cranny of our lives, voting is no exception. Enter blockchain voting, a method that sounds like a sci-fi plot twist but is very much in play today. The Michigan Democratic Party recently used Voatz to hold their state nominating convention virtually, marking another milestone in the evolving landscape of elections. But like any innovative solution, it comes with its share of drama!
Voatz Goes Virtual
On August 29-30, over 1,900 delegates convened (virtually, thanks to the pandemic) and cast nominations for positions like state Supreme Court and Board of Education using the Voatz platform. Chrisy Jensen, the Executive Director of the Michigan Democratic Party, praised the app for addressing the unique challenges posed by the virtual format. Imagine trying to wrangle a bunch of politicians and ensure their votes are counted accurately — kind of like herding cats, but with more screen time!
Voatz: A Blockchain of Trust or a House of Cards?
Despite the applause, Voatz is not without controversy. Previous iterations of its platform have been implemented across states like West Virginia, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado, yet concerns about security cling to it like unwanted confetti at a New Year’s party. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology released a rather scathing report on Voatz, pointing out vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to meddle with votes. They were basically saying, “Hey, have you thought about improving this before rolling it out?”
The Response to Criticism
In the face of criticism, Voatz made headlines for all the right and wrong reasons. They shot back at MIT, calling their findings a “flawed report.” Can you imagine having to defend yourself against a group of brainiacs like that? So what did West Virginia do? They slapped the brakes on using Voatz for future elections after these revelations, opting for the more traditional (and perhaps safer) route. However, undeterred, Utah used the app in its Republican state convention afterward. Talk about resilience!
The Future of Voting Technology
What does the worldview for Voatz look like? Well, according to CEO Nimit Sawhney, performance during the Utah convention was stellar. The app managed to process a whopping 93% of registered delegate votes. That’s akin to hitting the election jackpot for the tech-savvy! As more parties consider digital solutions in voting, will they extract the magic from the app, or will the issues at hand lead to more scrutiny? Only time will tell.
