The technology of bitcoin has been lauded by both its staunch supporters and avid opponents. One common statement is that the cryptocurrency technology can move far beyond a currency, such as electronic payments systems and now perhaps voting.
A Danish website, Version2, is reporting that Denmark’s Liberal Alliance is considering the possibility of utilizing the blockchain for internal voting in the Copenhagen suburb of Hvidovre, according to a political party press release.
The process will take place at the local association’s next annual general meeting that will commence this week.
The bitcoin community is quite conversant in the blockchain, a public accounting ledger of all transactions in the bitcoin network. The left-wing political party argues that a particular vote could be identified as a contract in the blockchain and anyone can observe the vote to comply with the contractual structure.
“Blockchain eliminates the need for trust, as the technology can operate autonomously without interference from humans, and it is also open source and transparent so that anyone can look under the hood and see what’s going on. It does not get more liberal – so it is ideal for e-voting,” said Mikkel Freltoft Krogholm, the Liberal Alliance Executive Committee Member, in a statement (via Google translation).
This means the entire political voting process is transparent and the general public can view the votes – any individual can confirm if their vote has been counted.
“Blockchain technology can be shaggy, but it is basically out of that decentralizes and democratizes everything from money to organizations,” added Krogholm. “So, from a liberal ideological point of view, it was an opportunity that we just had to intervene. Liberal Alliance in Hvidovre is the first local association of any party in the world that uses this type of technology in their reconciliation processes.”
Bitcoin continues to get involved in the political process on a global level, including funding political campaigns.
