blockchain for the people: implementing blockchain technology for a secure and reliable e-voting...

Blockchain for the people: Implementingblockchain technology for a secure and

reliable E-Voting solution

Marko Kovic1

May 25, 2016

ZIPARZurich Institute of Public Affairs Research

1ZIPAR / [email protected]

ZIPAROutlineWhat I’m about to talk about

I Why E-Voting matters.I Problems with E-Voting.I Blockchain to the rescue!I How would a blockchain-powered solution work?I The steps forward.


I Why E-Voting matters.

I Problems with E-Voting.I Blockchain to the rescue!I How would a blockchain-powered solution work?I The steps forward.


I Why E-Voting matters.I Problems with E-Voting.

I Blockchain to the rescue!I How would a blockchain-powered solution work?I The steps forward.


I Why E-Voting matters.I Problems with E-Voting.I Blockchain to the rescue!

I How would a blockchain-powered solution work?I The steps forward.


I Why E-Voting matters.I Problems with E-Voting.I Blockchain to the rescue!I How would a blockchain-powered solution work?

I The steps forward.


I Why E-Voting matters.I Problems with E-Voting.I Blockchain to the rescue!I How would a blockchain-powered solution work?I The steps forward.

ZIPARWhy E-Voting ma�ersBecause voting ma�ers!

Voting is a necessary condition for democracy.

I The people’s sovereignty cannot be expressed without free andfair elections!

I In Switzerland, we also care about people being able to directlyexpress their preferences on legislative issues.

I Representative democracy as well as direct democratic proceduresdepend on a free and fair voting process!

ZIPARWhy E-Voting ma�ersConducting voting ist very di�icult

Enabling people to vote is easy in theory, but di�cult in practice.

I Even in the simplest of cases, it’s a logistical challenge!

Figure: A «Landsgemeinde» in Glarus. Old school!

ZIPARWhy E-Voting ma�ersConducting voting ist very di�icult

Enabling people to vote is easy in theory, but di�cult in practice.I Even in the simplest of cases, it’s a logistical challenge!

Figure: A «Landsgemeinde» in Glarus. Old school!

ZIPARWhy E-Voting ma�ersE-Voting as a reduction of transaction costs

Because voting is logistically di�cult, governments have been tryingto implement "E-Voting" for decades.

I However, "E-Voting" is a fuzzy notion!

I Sometimes, people refer to electronic voting machines asE-Voting.

I I am talking about place-independent, individualized voting overthe Internet.



I However, "E-Voting" is a fuzzy notion!I Sometimes, people refer to electronic voting machines as

E-Voting.

I I am talking about place-independent, individualized voting overthe Internet.



I However, "E-Voting" is a fuzzy notion!I Sometimes, people refer to electronic voting machines as

E-Voting.I I am talking about place-independent, individualized voting over

the Internet.


E-Voting could have a tremendous positive impact!

I Normatively, citizens would receive an additional channel toparticipate.

I Practically, there are at least two bene�ts:

I Mobilization: Younger people tend to use the Internet more.I Ease of use: E-Voting could mean that voters have to invest

fewer resources, increasing the probability for participation.

I That sounds great! What’s the downside?

I Security.




I Practically, there are at least two bene�ts:I Mobilization: Younger people tend to use the Internet more.

I Ease of use: E-Voting could mean that voters have to investfewer resources, increasing the probability for participation.


I Security.




I Practically, there are at least two bene�ts:I Mobilization: Younger people tend to use the Internet more.I Ease of use: E-Voting could mean that voters have to invest



I Security.




I Practically, there are at least two bene�ts:I Mobilization: Younger people tend to use the Internet more.I Ease of use: E-Voting could mean that voters have to invest


I That sounds great! What’s the downside?I Security.

ZIPARProblems with E-VotingSecurity, security, security...

Traditional voting methods are not tamper-proof!

I The base-rate probability for voting fraud is greater than 0.I For example: Your voting letter in Switzerland can be

intercepted, physically.I However, large-scale voting fraud is rare in democracies.

I There’s a poor return on investment.

I The potential security risk with E-Voting is huge.

I You don’t intercept singular votes, but all of them!I That concern is why the Consortium Vote électronique failed.



I The base-rate probability for voting fraud is greater than 0.

I For example: Your voting letter in Switzerland can beintercepted, physically.

I However, large-scale voting fraud is rare in democracies.







intercepted, physically.

I However, large-scale voting fraud is rare in democracies.









I The potential security risk with E-Voting is huge.I You don’t intercept singular votes, but all of them!

I That concern is why the Consortium Vote électronique failed.






I The potential security risk with E-Voting is huge.I You don’t intercept singular votes, but all of them!I That concern is why the Consortium Vote électronique failed.

ZIPARBlockchain to the rescue!A distributed E-Voting system

You have probably heard of the «cryptocurrency» Bitcoin.

Figure: I can pay for a latte with Bitcoin? It’s getting real!


Bitcoin is interesting in its own right. But what’s going on under thehood is what really matters!

I Enter the blockchain.I What the hell is a blockchain?

I In layman’s terms (I’m a layman!), the blockchain is a distributedledger.

I Everybody has a copy of the ledger.I Transactions are broadcast between users.I The transactions are veri�ed by all other users.I It’s 100% open source!I There’s (basically) no way to cheat!

I Unless you operate a majority of the network.



I Enter the blockchain.

I What the hell is a blockchain?








I Everybody has a copy of the ledger.

I Transactions are broadcast between users.I The transactions are veri�ed by all other users.I It’s 100% open source!I There’s (basically) no way to cheat!






I Everybody has a copy of the ledger.I Transactions are broadcast between users.

I The transactions are veri�ed by all other users.I It’s 100% open source!I There’s (basically) no way to cheat!






I Everybody has a copy of the ledger.I Transactions are broadcast between users.I The transactions are veri�ed by all other users.

I It’s 100% open source!I There’s (basically) no way to cheat!






I Everybody has a copy of the ledger.I Transactions are broadcast between users.I The transactions are veri�ed by all other users.I It’s 100% open source!

I There’s (basically) no way to cheat!



Several industries are looking into blockchain applications beyondBitcoin, not least banks.

But how could the blockchain be useful to E-Voting?

I It’s obvious: Voting could be implemented as a transaction viathe blockchain ledger.

I If implemented well, this could be as secure as it goes.I Everything is open source: Unlike all other existing E-Voting

applications, this one would be truly transparent and thus trulydemocratic!





I If implemented well, this could be as secure as it goes.

I Everything is open source: Unlike all other existing E-Votingapplications, this one would be truly transparent and thus trulydemocratic!





I If implemented well, this could be as secure as it goes.I Everything is open source: Unlike all other existing E-Voting

applications, this one would be truly transparent and thus trulydemocratic!

ZIPARHow would a blockchain-powered solution work?Easier said than done – but it’s still doable!

There’s two kinds of challenges:

I Technical challenges.I Social challenges.

I The social challenges are more challenging!I The technical challenges are, essentially, manageable:

I Anonymization of transactions (votes).I Setting up and maintaining a network.



I Technical challenges.

I Social challenges.






I The social challenges are more challenging!

I The technical challenges are, essentially, manageable:






I Anonymization of transactions (votes).

I Setting up and maintaining a network.


The social challenges for a blockchain-powered E-Voting solution:

I TrustI In order to make this happen, we need to gain the trust of the

relevant stakeholders:

I Governments (local, regional, national).I Legislators.I Foundations.I The public.



I Trust

I In order to make this happen, we need to gain the trust of therelevant stakeholders:





relevant stakeholders:





relevant stakeholders:I Governments (local, regional, national).

I Legislators.I Foundations.I The public.




relevant stakeholders:I Governments (local, regional, national).I Legislators.

I Foundations.I The public.




relevant stakeholders:I Governments (local, regional, national).I Legislators.I Foundations.

I The public.




relevant stakeholders:I Governments (local, regional, national).I Legislators.I Foundations.I The public.


A general outline of blockchain-powered E-Voting:

I 100% non-commercial.I Involving multiple stakeholders.

I If the government is in charge, it’s all for naught!

I Funding:

I Government(s).I Foundations and individual donors.I Possibly: Corporate sponsorship.



I 100% non-commercial.

I Involving multiple stakeholders.


I Funding:






I Funding:






I Funding:I Government(s).

I Foundations and individual donors.I Possibly: Corporate sponsorship.





I Funding:I Government(s).I Foundations and individual donors.

I Possibly: Corporate sponsorship.





I Funding:I Government(s).I Foundations and individual donors.I Possibly: Corporate sponsorship.

ZIPARThe steps forwardWin hearts and minds, and then get funded

How do we proceed from here? An idea without a plan is but adream!

I Phase 1: Create a discussion paper aimed at policy makers(governemnt(s), legislators) and promote the idea publicly aswell.

I Phase 2: Secure funding for a proof-of-concept.I Phase 3: Project management phase.I Phase 4: Project evaluation.I Phase 5: Unpredictable.

I We will focus on phases 1 and 2.I Phase 2 includes a concept for the proof-of-concept!I Phase 3 assumes success at phase 2.I Phases 3 and 4 are speculative; everything beyond phase 4 is

wishful thinking.




I Phase 2: Secure funding for a proof-of-concept.

I Phase 3: Project management phase.I Phase 4: Project evaluation.I Phase 5: Unpredictable.


wishful thinking.




I Phase 2: Secure funding for a proof-of-concept.I Phase 3: Project management phase.

I Phase 4: Project evaluation.I Phase 5: Unpredictable.


wishful thinking.




I Phase 2: Secure funding for a proof-of-concept.I Phase 3: Project management phase.I Phase 4: Project evaluation.

I Phase 5: Unpredictable.


wishful thinking.






wishful thinking.





I We will focus on phases 1 and 2.

I Phase 2 includes a concept for the proof-of-concept!I Phase 3 assumes success at phase 2.I Phases 3 and 4 are speculative; everything beyond phase 4 is

wishful thinking.





I We will focus on phases 1 and 2.I Phase 2 includes a concept for the proof-of-concept!

I Phase 3 assumes success at phase 2.I Phases 3 and 4 are speculative; everything beyond phase 4 is

wishful thinking.





I We will focus on phases 1 and 2.I Phase 2 includes a concept for the proof-of-concept!I Phase 3 assumes success at phase 2.

I Phases 3 and 4 are speculative; everything beyond phase 4 iswishful thinking.






wishful thinking.

ZIPARThank you

Thanks for your attention!

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