Cybersecurity Company Kaspersky Debuts Blockchain-based Voting Machine

Blockchain voting is gaining more traction in the United States despite the abysmal failure of mobile voting at the Iowa Democratic Caucus earlier this month.

The company unveiled a new type of a blockchain-based voting machine using Polys, the system released back in November 2017 designed to be an effective and secure way to vote online.

Voting trying to keep up with technological innovationsThough Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow, the company has offices in the United States and around the world.

More recently, India's Chief Election Commissioner announced their citizens would be voting with blockchain.

How Kaspersky's voting machine worksAccording to Polys, voters will be issued unique QR codes or token.

These can be scanned, allowing them to cast their votes on one of the new voting machines.

Voters would then be able to confirm their vote had been recorded on the blockchain.

Online voting has certain disadvantagesVoting using the blockchain on mobile devices would allow voters to cast their ballots remotely, but it would also disadvantage certain voters.

"...if physical polling stations were to be closed completely, it would deprive and alienate certain groups of people from taking part in an election and making their voice heard. That is why we introduced our new voting machines. Working together with the online platform, they allow citizens to vote using the method they prefer, in a convenient and transparent way."

Blockchain-based voting machines and voting with smartphones may provide voters in many countries with a more accessible and convenient way to cast their ballot.