Category: Democracy

Voatz @ AfricaTech Fest’24

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Voatz is showcased at the US DTA Pavilion during the 2024 Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town.

Cape Town, South Africa – Voatz was honored to be part of the U.S. Commercial Service pavilion at the Africa Tech Festival 2024, taking place from November 12-14 in Cape Town. This event is a key part of the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, aimed at fostering digital partnerships between the U.S. and African nations. The U.S. pavilion, opened by prominent U.S. government officials, showcases ten leading American tech companies, including us, to support digital innovation in Africa through connectivity, cybersecurity, and mobile solutions.

Our participation highlights our commitment to utilizing the power of digital transformation to facilitate secure, accessible elections. Our award-winning elections platform was introduced as part of the broader DTA effort to bring U.S. technology to African markets. Such initiatives allow us to engage with local stakeholders, share our experiences in building modern election technology, and explore how our solutions can adapt to the unique challenges faced by African nations. By supporting inclusive, secure, and verifiable election processes, we aim to empower communities and strengthen democratic participation.

Our cutting-edge voting system leverages biometrics and blockchain technology to ensure the security, transparency, and integrity of the electoral process. One of the key benefits of our platform is its ability to help the African diaspora participate in elections remotely, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of where they are located, has the opportunity to have their voice heard. By using our mobile-first voting system, diaspora communities can easily and securely cast their votes, contributing to the democratic process without the logistical challenges of traditional voting methods. This kind of accessibility is crucial for maintaining strong democratic ties and empowering those living abroad to remain engaged in their home country’s future.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the pavilion featured U.S. government leaders like Thomas Bruns from the Department of Commerce and Joy Basu from the Department of State, underscoring the importance of collaboration in advancing Africa’s digital goals. Companies like Astranis Space Technologies, Connectivity Capital, Resecurity, A10 Networks, Netstratum and others are joining us to bring cutting-edge solutions in connectivity, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. The presence of such a diverse group of technology innovators showcases the collective effort to build resilient digital systems that can meet the growing needs of the continent.

(Photo courtesy of US Commercial Service Sub-Saharan Africa)

Our involvement in the Africa Tech Festival aligns perfectly with our mission to leverage technology to create secure and inclusive digital experiences, especially in the context of elections. We believe in the transformative power of digital tools not only to secure electoral processes but also to bridge the technological divide. As Africa continues its journey towards greater digital empowerment, we are proud to contribute innovative solutions that can foster transparency, increase voter participation, and ultimately strengthen the democratic fabric of nations. We look forward to forging new partnerships, sharing knowledge, and learning from our African counterparts as we work towards a future where technology empowers every citizen.

We are grateful to the US Commercial Service (Sub-Saharan Africa) team and the Prosper Africa team for their kind assistance during this showcase.

Voatz Powers Historic 2024 Federal Elections in Mexico

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Overseas Voter Turnout Soars Amid Stellar Cybersecurity Performance.

Boston, MA, USA / Mexico City, Mexico – In a groundbreaking moment for democracy and technological innovation, Voatz successfully powered the 2024 Federal Elections in Mexico, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of blockchain-backed online voting systems. This was the first time that Mexicans living overseas were able to cast their votes using this secure and transparent technology in a Federal election, reflecting Mexico’s commitment to expanding access to voting while ensuring security and integrity in the face of potential threats.

A Historic Election: First Woman President Elected

The 2024 elections were not just historic for their technological advances—they also saw Mexico elect its first woman president. This landmark victory is a pivotal step forward for representation and inclusivity in Mexican politics. The Voatz system played an instrumental role in facilitating voter participation globally, ensuring that overseas Mexicans could contribute to this momentous election.

Cybersecurity at the Forefront: A Battle-Tested System

One of the key achievements of the 2024 Federal Elections was the flawless performance of Voatz’s platform amidst a complex cybersecurity environment. In the lead-up to and during the elections, the system successfully fended off multiple cyber threats and potential attacks aimed at disrupting the voting process. Voatz’s advanced security features, which include end-to-end encryption and blockchain-based immutability, proved resilient in protecting the integrity of the election.

The blockchain-backed voting system ensured that each vote was securely recorded and could not be altered or tampered with, even in the presence of multiple threats. Every vote cast was encrypted, making it inaccessible to unauthorized parties, while the immutable nature of blockchain technology allowed election officials to fully audit and verify the process. This gave voters and election authorities confidence in the security and transparency of the system.

Increased Participation Among Overseas Voters

In addition to demonstrating robust cybersecurity, the election saw a dramatic increase in overseas voter participation. Voatz’s platform helped drive this surge by offering a secure and convenient method for overseas Mexicans to participate in the election. Overseas voter turnout more than doubled compared to the previous federal election in 2018, a testament to how blockchain-backed mobile voting systems can empower citizens regardless of their geographical location.

Voatz’s platform allowed overseas voters to verify their credentials securely and cast their votes without the hurdles of traveling to polling stations or relying on postal services. With cybersecurity at the core of the platform, voters could rest assured that their ballots were cast and counted with full integrity, despite the threat of interference.

A Closer Look at Voatz’s Cybersecurity Measures

Voatz’s system is designed with multiple layers of security to defend against sophisticated cyber threats. These include:

  • End-to-End Encryption: Protecting the data from the voter’s device to the vote’s final recording on the blockchain, ensuring total privacy.
  • Blockchain Immutability: Each vote is secured using a blockchain-based infrastructure, ensuring that once a vote is cast, it cannot be altered or deleted.
  • Auditability: The blockchain infrastructure provides full transparency, allowing election officials to audit the entire voting process to confirm its accuracy.
  • Rigorous Penetration Testing: Prior to the election, Voatz underwent extensive third-party cybersecurity testing to ensure it could withstand advanced cyberattacks.

Despite the presence of multiple threats, Voatz’s system stood resilient, protecting the integrity of the election and allowing Mexican voters around the world to cast their ballots confidently.

The Future of Secure and Accessible Voting

The success of the 2024 Federal Elections in Mexico is a powerful demonstration of how secure and accessible voting solutions can transform the democratic process. Voatz is proud to have contributed to this historic election, providing a platform that not only expanded voter participation but also withstood significant cybersecurity challenges.

We are grateful to our partners IDEEO, the AWS team and the INE team for their amazing support and collaboration to make this a grand success.

Looking forward, Voatz remains committed to innovating the future of elections, ensuring that blockchain-backed voting technology can continue to empower citizens everywhere while maintaining the highest levels of security and transparency.

December 2024 Update: Our technical paper that discusses the implementation for this election in detail was accepted for publication by IEEE Blockchain and is available here.

Florida Legislature Supports The Digital Democracy Project

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— Bipartisan Support —

With bipartisan sponsorship and support in the Florida House and Senate, Digital Democracy Project (that uses the Voatz platform) was approved for Department of State funding — $125,000 for fiscal year 2024-25. This funding will enable the enhancement of the civic engagement platform to include local initiatives.

The appropriation sponsors were Rep. Rita Harris (D-Dist. 44) and Sen. Keith Perry (R-Dist. 9). Enthusiastic supporters also worked behind the scenes in Tallahassee to get this funding approved. Sen. Victor Torres (D-Dist. 25), Rep. Jim Mooney (R-Dist. 120), Rep. Tom Keen (D-Dist. 35) were also key supporters.

Read more here and sign up to vote if you are a registered voter in the State of Floria.

Update (06/20/24): Unfortunately, Governor DeSantis has vetoed this funding request despite the bipartisan support in the legislature.

Mexico Selects Voatz for its 2024 National Elections

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Exciting Milestone

Boston, MA, USA / Mexico City, Mexico – December 29, 2023: Voatz is honored to announce that INE (the National Electoral Commission of Mexico) has selected the Voatz election solution (alongside our local partners Ideeo Labs, S.A. de C.V and Comercializadora JVLY, S.A. de C.V.) for the June 2024 National/Presidential Elections in Mexico.

The solution will be targeted towards overseas Mexican citizens in several parts of the world by providing them an accessible remote voting solution for the upcoming elections. An in-person voting option at several Mexican consulates and other locations will also be provided.

According to this report, nearly 12 million Mexicans citizens live overseas and more than 97% live in the USA. We look forward to serving many of them as part of the elections later this year.

Voatz Rated as a Trusted Blockchain Solution for Elections

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For Immediate Release

Washington DC – September 14, 2023: The Government Blockchain Association today announced that Voatz, a blockchain-based voting technology, has earned the designation of a Trusted Blockchain Solution after undergoing an independent assessment using the Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM).

Voatz’s Remote Accessible Ballot Delivery, Marking, and Return (RABDMR) blockchain solution has been a game-changer in election implementations worldwide, successfully supporting diverse elections, including political party and presidential elections in the United States and internationally.

The assessment of Voatz’s RABDMR solution was conducted using the Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM), a framework developed by the Government Blockchain Association and recognized by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum Dynamic Coalition on Blockchain Assurance & Standardization.

Voatz specializes in providing highly secure and accessible voting solutions for overseas citizens, military personnel, diplomats, first responders and citizens with disabilities. The solution leverages mobile devices, biometrics, hardware-based security and blockchain technology to create a private and convenient voting experience for these critical demographics.

Gerard Dache, Executive Director of GBA, lauded Voatz, stating, “Voatz has earned the designation as a trusted blockchain solution because of their steadfast commitment to secure and accessible elections”. He added, “Voatz has now joined the ranks of globally recognized trusted blockchain solutions featured on the United Nations Blockchain Assurance & Standardization Dynamic Coalition website”.

Nimit Sawhney, Co-Founder/CEO of Voatz stated, “The Voatz team is thrilled to be the first election solution to complete this BMM assessment and achieve a trusted blockchain solution designation. We look forward to serving more governments/election officials globally and bringing more accessibility, transparency, and security to the electoral and e-governance infrastructure”.

The assessment was carried out by a team of GBA-qualified senior-level experts specializing in blockchain technology, legal matters, regulatory compliance, and election processes. This team employed a comprehensive framework and a rigorous assessment methodology that evaluates the voting solution from eleven distinct perspectives, including Distribution, Governance, Identity Management, Interoperability, Performance, Privacy, Reliability, Resilience, Security, Infrastructure Sustainability, and Synchronization.

Voatz’s dedication to providing secure and inclusive voting solutions has received further validation with this recognition. At a time when election security and accessibility are paramount concerns, Voatz’s RABDMR solution shines as a beacon of trustworthiness and innovation in the blockchain-based voting landscape.

— For more information about Voatz and its groundbreaking solutions, please visit https://voatz.com.

— To learn more about the Blockchain Maturity Model and its applications, visit https://www.gbaglobal.org/blockchain-maturity-model.

— For additional insights into the United Nations Internet Governance Forum Dynamic Coalition on Blockchain Assurance & Standardization, please visit https://intgovforum.org/en/content/dynamic-coalition-on-blockchain-assurance-and-standardization-dc-bas.

About Voatz:

Voatz is an award winning mobile-first elections platform backed by cutting-edge security, biometrics and a blockchain-backed infrastructure. Since its inception, Voatz has successfully served more than 2.3 million voters across 125 elections in 6 countries. In 2018, Voatz ran the first mobile vote in US Federal Election history, and, in 2020, Voatz became the first smartphone app based system to be used for voting in the US Presidential Elections. Voatz was recently selected by 15 cities in Canada for the 2022 Ontario Municipal Elections.

About the Government Blockchain Association (GBA):

The Government Blockchain Association (GBA) is a global nonprofit organization that facilitates the adoption of blockchain technology in government and public sector organizations. GBA’s mission is to educate and empower public sector professionals to understand, adopt, and utilize blockchain technology for more efficient, secure, and transparent government services.

Our 1st Election in Europe

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For Immediate Release

Boston, MA – January 31, 2023: Voatz announces the successful completion of its very first election in Europe. Nearly 50,000 members of the United National Movement (UNM) in Georgia used the Voatz platform to register for the election and vote successfully in a safe, private manner for the position of the party chairperson.

How It Worked: 
This was the first-of-its-kind undertaking, allowing Georgian citizens to digitally participate in a major political party’s election at home and overseas. This election’s success amidst the massive threats from a major nation state threat actor next-door will serve as a road map for citizens across the world seeking a similar democratic action without being intimidated or coerced to vote a certain way. 

The registration and voting platform was accessible through smartphone applications, web browser applications, and was also integrated with a Facebook based verification system for party members. Participation was made convenient, accessible through the platform’s intuitive design and tutorials for those who needed additional help.

Technology Overview:
The Elections Organizing Committee of the UNM in Georgia tasked Voatz with making this a secure, accessible voting system that would inspire trust and confidence among party members who were skeptical of their ability to conduct a fair election. Eligible party members were verified using a unique Facebook based verification mechanism. Voatz also provided a secure registration system for party members to pass an initial eligibility vetting process managed by the campaigns of all the candidates participating in the election. Voatz helped maintain voter anonymity, train voters, and party administrators, and facilitated a post-election risk-limiting audit using the blockchain.  

Results: 
Nearly 50000 party members participated in the election for the UNM Chairperson.

Security: 
Given the sensitive nature of the project, Voatz was prepared to operate in the presence of cyber threats. The Voatz platform performed resiliently by identifying and blocking attacks as they occurred. Threats seen frequently in the field were broadly in the following categories – DNS tampering attempts, email spoofing, denial of service attacks, SMS blocking, man-in-the-middle attacks, device malware, suspicious mobile application, and unsafe wireless connections.

The Digital Democracy Project officially kicks off in Florida

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All registered voters in the State of Florida can participate.

Ever wish you could tell your legislators exactly how to vote? Well, now you can! 

The Digital Democracy Project is live. All registered Florida voters can visit here to get started.

Once voters submit their (secret) votes, the tally and other insightful statistics are available here.

The legislator scorecard can be viewed here.

Voatz is providing the secure voting technology for this project and is proud to be a part of this initiative led by Ramon Perez and his team.

Voatz Successfully Completes Its 2022 Elections in the US & Canada

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For Immediate Release

Boston, MA / North Bay, ON – November 11, 2022: Voatz announces the successful completion of its elections in the US and Canada as part of the 2022 election cycle. Nearly half a million voters were eligible to use the Voatz system during this election cycle across multiple jurisdictions.

Voatz Track Record

As of this release, Voatz has successfully completed 115 elections and enabled more than 2.1 million voters to cast their ballots in a secure, accessible manner using the convenience of their personal devices. The Voatz team is extremely grateful for the trust and support it has received from various election officials, administrators and voters globally.

“Our team has been working tirelessly to expand access and security in elections.” said a Voatz spokesperson. “We strongly believe that technologies such as ours can play a significant role in rebuilding trust and making the electoral process safer and truly accessible for all. The groundwork to conduct large scale online elections has now been laid and we are super excited to embrace the opportunities ahead.”

Voatz is at the forefront of providing accessible, secure remote voting for all citizens and has established itself as a global leader in delivering successful elections especially in high threat scenarios. Its award winning mobile first election system continues to receive high praise from citizens and administrators alike.

Voatz Testimonial
Voatz Testimonial

About Voatz 

Voatz is an award-winning mobile elections platform that leverages cutting-edge technology (including remote identity verification, biometrics and a blockchain-based infrastructure) to increase access, auditability and security in elections. Since 2016, Voatz has served more than 2.1 millions voters across 115 elections with national/state/municipal governments, universities, nonprofits, and major state political parties. Voatz specializes in delivering successful elections in high threat environments.

Key Milestone – Our 100th Election

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On September 26th 2022, we kicked off our 100th election which also happened to be our first ever governmental election in Ontario, Canada.

As a new entrant to the Canadian market, we are delighted to be pioneering mobile first voting (running on a blockchain backed infrastructure) in the 2022 Ontario Municipal Elections across several jurisdictions.

Voatz 100th Election - 1st in Canada

We are grateful for the trust placed in us by election officials, administrators and electors. We look forward to a highly successful election cycle this year.

Updated 10/25/22 – Turnout in this milestone election increased from 38.46% (in 2018 where Voatz wasn’t used) to 43.55% in 2022. See details below:

Government Blockchain Association Releases Draft Standards for Remote Voting

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Pioneering work towards standards development led by election officials and cybersecurity experts starts taking shape.

The GBA has released two products in August 2022 as part of this exercise. Multiple members of the Voatz team participated in this year long process and shared their expertise based on the extensive learnings from the field.

  • The GBA assembled industry experts to debate remote digital voting at an event called Blockchain & Voting. Consequently, the participants agreed to draft a report comparing the functional and security considerations of available remote ballot return methods. The report can be downloaded at Remote Election Technology Report.

Read more on the GBA’s website here.