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    Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy

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    • scottalanmillerS
      scottalanmiller
      last edited by

      Opinion: Blockchain-based voting would destroy public trust in elections.

      ...But let's think about how this would play out in practice. Suppose it's mid-November 2020 and Donald Trump has narrowly won reelection. A few thousand voters in key swing states come forward to say that they intended to vote for Trump's opponent but their vote was recorded for Trump instead. Thousands of others say they tried to vote for Trump—or against him—but their votes weren't counted.

      Was that due to hackers meddling with the vote, technical snafus, or user error? Were some of them just misremembering how they had cast their ballots? There would be no way to know for sure....

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • JaredBuschJ
        JaredBusch
        last edited by

        The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

        As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

        scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
        • scottalanmillerS
          scottalanmiller @JaredBusch
          last edited by

          @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

          The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

          As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

          And perception problems.

          JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • JaredBuschJ
            JaredBusch @scottalanmiller
            last edited by

            @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

            @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

            The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

            As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

            And perception problems.

            I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

            Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

            IRJI 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • IRJI
              IRJ @JaredBusch
              last edited by

              @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

              @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

              @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

              The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

              As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

              And perception problems.

              I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

              Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

              100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

              It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

              JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • JaredBuschJ
                JaredBusch @IRJ
                last edited by

                @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                And perception problems.

                I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                IRJI 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • IRJI
                  IRJ @JaredBusch
                  last edited by

                  @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                  @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                  @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                  @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                  @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                  The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                  As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                  And perception problems.

                  I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                  Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                  100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                  It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                  The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                  The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                  Right. I see what you mean. Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                  pmonchoP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • pmonchoP
                    pmoncho @IRJ
                    last edited by

                    @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                    @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                    @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                    @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                    @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                    @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                    The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                    As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                    And perception problems.

                    I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                    Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                    100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                    It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                    The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                    The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                    Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                    I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                    scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • scottalanmillerS
                      scottalanmiller @pmoncho
                      last edited by

                      @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                      The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                      As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                      And perception problems.

                      I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                      Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                      100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                      It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                      The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                      The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                      Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                      I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                      Right now it is based on perceived views. Which is bad. But you can imagine how mad people would be if they learned for certain how people voted.

                      pmonchoP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • pmonchoP
                        pmoncho @scottalanmiller
                        last edited by

                        @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                        The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                        As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                        And perception problems.

                        I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                        Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                        100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                        It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                        The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                        The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                        Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                        I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                        Right now it is based on perceived views. Which is bad. But you can imagine how mad people would be if they learned for certain how people voted.

                        For the people who want that info kept private, it is a huge issue. Many people have no issue stating who they did not vote for or what party they belong to. Just like many have no issue posting their life on social media.

                        scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • scottalanmillerS
                          scottalanmiller @pmoncho
                          last edited by

                          @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                          The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                          As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                          And perception problems.

                          I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                          Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                          100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                          It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                          The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                          The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                          Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                          I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                          Right now it is based on perceived views. Which is bad. But you can imagine how mad people would be if they learned for certain how people voted.

                          For the people who want that info kept private, it is a huge issue. Many people have no issue stating who they did not vote for or what party they belong to. Just like many have no issue posting their life on social media.

                          Claiming and proving are very different things, though.

                          pmonchoP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • pmonchoP
                            pmoncho @scottalanmiller
                            last edited by

                            @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                            The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                            As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                            And perception problems.

                            I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                            Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                            100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                            It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                            The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                            The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                            Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                            I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                            Right now it is based on perceived views. Which is bad. But you can imagine how mad people would be if they learned for certain how people voted.

                            For the people who want that info kept private, it is a huge issue. Many people have no issue stating who they did not vote for or what party they belong to. Just like many have no issue posting their life on social media.

                            Claiming and proving are very different things, though.

                            Good point.

                            JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • JaredBuschJ
                              JaredBusch @pmoncho
                              last edited by JaredBusch

                              @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                              The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                              As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                              And perception problems.

                              I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                              Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                              100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                              It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                              The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                              The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                              Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                              I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                              Right now it is based on perceived views. Which is bad. But you can imagine how mad people would be if they learned for certain how people voted.

                              For the people who want that info kept private, it is a huge issue. Many people have no issue stating who they did not vote for or what party they belong to. Just like many have no issue posting their life on social media.

                              Claiming and proving are very different things, though.

                              Good point.

                              Actually, the point. If people would be able to prove that they voted a certain way, the amount of money that flow into vote buying is nearly unimaginable.

                              Now, no one can prove how they vote today. Even if I went in , got a ballot, voted, and took a picture, that is not proof of how I voted.

                              Because I could easily ask them to shred my ballot and get me a clean one after the picture was taken.

                              scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • scottalanmillerS
                                scottalanmiller @JaredBusch
                                last edited by

                                @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @pmoncho said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @IRJ said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @scottalanmiller said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                @JaredBusch said in Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy:

                                The technology itself makes for a great tamper proof system. but that is not the problem with a blockchain based election system.

                                As the article states, the hard part about this technology is the loss of anonymity.

                                And perception problems.

                                I don't care about perception of people too stupid to even spell blockchain, let alone understand what it is.

                                Blockchain election systems would be great technically.

                                100% agree. Blockchain isnt quite ready for this yet, but will be very soon. I have done quit a bit of tinkering with my own Ethereum token with transactions, testing, etc.

                                It isn't quite ready for the Broadway yet, but it's getting there and the concept is very solid. Some issues need to be addressed such as speed.

                                The issues will not be technical. If you cannot have a 100% anonymous electorate, then you have people that can sell their votes (and prove it).

                                The entire point of blockchain is accountability. You cannot have accountability and anonymity with the current design of blockchain.

                                Retaliation based on political views could be a potential issue as well.

                                I believe It may already be an issue and would get much worse.

                                Right now it is based on perceived views. Which is bad. But you can imagine how mad people would be if they learned for certain how people voted.

                                For the people who want that info kept private, it is a huge issue. Many people have no issue stating who they did not vote for or what party they belong to. Just like many have no issue posting their life on social media.

                                Claiming and proving are very different things, though.

                                Good point.

                                Actually, the point. If people would be able to prove that they voted a certain way, the amount of money that flow into vote buying is nearly unimaginable.

                                Yeah, someone paying for a vote might pay $.25 for someone's word on who they voted for. But might pay $100 for a proven vote.

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