Luxoft created for Switzerland the system of fair elections on a blockchain

At the beginning of July, 2018 it became known of creation in Switzerland a blockchain system of vote by Luxoft company. This technology is designed to make choices by fair.

The platform developed with assistance of the University of applied sciences of Lucerne (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences) and the authorities was tested in the Swiss city of Zug. It is noted that the source code of development is open that it in addition does it less subject to the hidden attacks: in the conditions of mistrust to electronic voting systems it is important.

The experiment with vote by means of a blockchain took place in Switzerland for the first time. It lasted from June 25 to July 1, 2018, but covered rather small amount of people: access to a system was got by 240 people.

Luxoft created for Switzerland the system of fair elections on a blockchain

Testing in general was recognized successful. The technology was considered perspective as it provides transparency of process of vote, makes impossible falsification of results of elections and facilitates counting of votes. Besides, participants of a research showed interest in digitalization of services.

22 respondents reported that they are ready to fill out tax files in a digital form  and to participate in regular polls in the future. 19 respondents would like to pay the parking using digital  ID, and three more would use it for obtaining books in library.

At the same time it is not reported when the blockchain system can begin to be used for real elections in Switzerland. The mayor of Zug Dolfi Müller says that he trusts in the potential of a blockchain and electronic vote, despite the skeptical attitude towards technology in other cities.

We consider that the technology of electronic vote should not belong to any company. We will build the platform of electronic vote open source that people could understand technology and the principle of its work. We want that more blockchains-applications were developed for the governments worldwide — the technical director of Luxoft Vasily Suvorov said.

The so-called "cryptovalley" working in the Swiss canton of Zug made Switzerland one of the advanced countries in use of blockchain technology and digital assets. Since 2016 in this canton the bitcoin is accepted as payment for rendering some municipal services.

As notes  the SWI Swissinfo.ch edition, successful start of a blockchain platform for elections will have serious effects for democracy in Switzerland. The government wants that two thirds of cantons used electronic vote by the end of 2019, but it is optional using a blockchain.

According to Dolfi Müller, the blockchain offers higher level of security in comparison with other electronic voting systems. It concerns protection of cracking and misuse of personal data. The decentralized structure of a blockchain means absence for hackers of uniform access point for manipulation with results of vote, noted in administration of Zug.

Developers a blockchain system promise to save anonymity of voters, at the same time having provided them full control over the data of vote and an opportunity to erase information on former preferences during elections. Experts say that it can be implemented without destruction of collective results.

However by July, 2018 the blockchain still is in embryo and is seldom used in actual practice,  SWI swissinfo.ch tells. The experiment using a blockchain for carrying out vote was made in Estonia and Sierra Leone earlier. However, in Estonia tested technology for shareholder voting of the companies.^[1]

Notes