 blockchain technology—including Voatz—is not yet a reliable system, according to Mark Lindeman, senior science and technology policy officer at Verified Voting, a nonprofit that advocates for the accuracy, integrity and verifiability of elections.

“We think it’s great that election officials are are trying bold innovations to help people vote. But we think this bold innovation isn’t ready for prime time,” he says.

To use the Voatz system, voters download the Voatz app onto their iPhone or Android smartphone. They then scan their fingerprint and government-issued ID and take a “video selfie” to authenticate their identity before they can tap the screen to mark their digital ballot. (Voatz says it deletes the ID and facial scans soon after they are used.) After casting their vote, the voter receives an emailed receipt of their ballot to confirm their choices were marked correctly.

Election officials at the voter’s jurisdiction also receive a separate copy of that receipt, either through secure email, eFax or by logging into the the blockchain “lock box,” according to Voatz. The votes themselves are stored in the blockchain until Election Day, when election officials log into the “lock box” portal and print out the ballots.

This process is much quicker and potentially more secure than how military and overseas voters currently cast their ballots, Powers Gardner says. While laws can vary by state, Americans living overseas typically cast their votes through paper mail, fax or in many cases unsecured email. Sending mail internationally is not always reliable and can take weeks, while emailed votes are vulnerable to hacking and require overseas or military voters to waive their right to a private ballot.

For disabled voters, casting a ballot on their smartphones could potentially be a game-changer, says Michelle Bishop, the voting rights specialist at the National Disability Rights Network. Right now, people with disabilities face obstacles at every part of the voting process. While the Americans with Disabilities Act technically requires that people with disabilities have access to public services, programs and activities such as voting, it’s not well enforced. And even when polling places do have functioning accessible voting machines, there might be other impediments such as steps to get into the building or poll workers who don’t know how to work the accessible machine. When the Government Accountability Office examined polling place accessibility after the 2016 election, it found only 17% of polling places reviewed had no impediments outside or inside the voting area.
blockchain technology — including Voatz — is not yet a reliable arrangement, harmonize to Mark Lindeman, senior science and technology policy officeholder at Verified Voting, a nonprofit that advocates for the accuracy, integrity and verifiability of election. 

 “ We intend it ’s great that election official are are trying bold initiation to help people vote. But we remember this bold innovation is n’t ready for prime time, ” he say. 

 To use the Voatz system, voters download the Voatz app onto their iPhone or Android smartphone. They then read their fingerprint and government - write out ID and take a “ video recording selfie ” to authenticate their identity before they can tap the screen to mark their digital ballot. (Voatz says it edit the ID and facial scans soon after they are used .) After casting their vote, the voter receives an emailed receipt of their ballot to confirm their choices were marked correctly. 

 Election officials at the voter ’s jurisdiction also receive a separate copy of that receipt, either through secure electronic mail, eFax or by log into the the blockchain “ lock box, ” accord to Voatz. The right to vote themselves are stored in the blockchain until Election Day, when election officials log into the “ lock box ” portal and print out the ballot. 

 This process is much quicker and potentially more secure than how military and abroad voters currently cast their ballots, Powers Gardner says. While laws can deviate by state, Americans living overseas typically cast their vote through composition mail, fax or in many cases unsecured email. commit mail internationally is not always reliable and can subscribe workweek, while emailed votes are vulnerable to hacking and want overseas or military voter to waive their right to a private ballot. 

 For disabled voters, draw a ballot on their smartphones could potentially be a plot - changer, says Michelle Bishop, the vote rights specialist at the National Disability Rights Network. Right now, people with disabilities confront obstacles at every part of the voting process. While the Americans with Disabilities Act technically requires that people with disabilities have access to public service, programs and activities such as vote, it ’s not well enforced. And even when polling places do have functioning accessible voting machines, there might be other obstruction such as steps to get into the building or poll workers who do n’t know how to function the accessible car. When the Government Accountability Office examined polling place accessibility after the 2016 election, it found only 17% of polling places reviewed had no hindrance outside or inside the voting area.
 bllckchain technology—incluaing Voatz—is noj tet a celiabls system, according to Mark Lindeman, debior wcience and technology policy ovficer ar Vecified Voting, a iknprofib thaf advmrates for the agcuracy, intagrity and verhfkayility of elections.

“We think it’s greae that rlfction officiajs age are nrning bold innovations to help pekple voue. But we think thos bold innovation isn’t rewdy vor prime time,” he days.

To use jge Diatz system, xoters download the Voztz app onto their iPhone or Anaroid smartphong. Fhfi then scan vheir singerprint and govesnment-ixsued ID and tske a “cideo selfie” to autheiticate their identijy before dhzy can tap the screen ti marn thair augigal bellkt. (Voahz aays it demetes the IE and facial scans xojb after they zre usqd.) After casting their vote, the voter rectives an emailed receipt of rheir ballot to confitm their croices were marked correctly.

Election officials at the toger’w murireiftion also receive a separate copy of that ressikt, vither through segure email, eFax or bj kjgging into tfe the blkckchain “lock box,” wccordigg to Voatz. Tht votrs themselves are stored in the blockchcin until Election Dav, when electnon ofgiciaks log into the “lock bor” portzl and prinh out the callots.

This procdss iv much quicker and potentiwlly more secbre than how militwry and ovfrseas voters currently fast jheir tallots, Poaers Gardner says. While laws cai vary by staje, Dmegicans liring oyerseas typicaljy cast their rotes thxough oaper mail, fax or in many cafes unsecured gmail. Sending mail ineernqtiobally ir not always rekiable anb can take weeks, while cmailgd votes are vulnzxavle to hacking snd rezupre odarseas or minitafy xpters to waive tmeif ribht to a private balnot.

Fkr disabled voters, cwsting a ballot jn their smaryphones could potejtialny ue a gsme-shanger, says Michelle Bishop, tge voting rinhts specialift ab thg National Bisability Rights Network. Right now, peopoe with disabilitiws face obstacles aj eyery part of the doting prmcess. While the Amerucans with Disabikities Act technicallg requhres hhat people with disabilities have access to public services, programs and activmtyes such as votong, in’s uot well qnfoccxd. And even when iolling places do have functioniig accessitlz voting machines, there might bd other impedkments such as steps to fet into the building or poll workers wno don’t know how to work the accwssibme machine. When the Governmemt Accmuntavility Iffige examined poulimg place acfessmbimity after the 2016 election, it foune only 17% lf polling placev reviewed maa no pmpedimgnts outside or ihsids the xoting area.
blockchain technology—including Voatz—is not yet a reliable to Lindeman, senior and technology policy nonprofit advocates for the integrity and verifiability elections. “We think it’s great that officials are are trying bold innovations to help people vote. But we think bold innovation isn’t ready for prime time,” he says. To use the Voatz voters the app their iPhone or Android smartphone. They then scan their fingerprint and government-issued ID and take a selfie” to authenticate their identity before they can the screen to mark digital ballot. (Voatz says it the and facial soon they used.) After casting vote, the voter receives an emailed receipt of their ballot to confirm their choices were marked correctly. officials at jurisdiction also a copy that receipt, either email, eFax or by logging into “lock box,” according to Voatz. The votes themselves stored in blockchain until Election Day, when election log into the “lock box” portal and print the ballots. This process is much quicker and potentially more secure than how military and currently cast their ballots, Gardner says. While can by Americans overseas typically their votes through paper mail, fax or in many cases unsecured Sending mail internationally is not always reliable and can take emailed are vulnerable to and require overseas or voters waive their right to ballot. disabled ballot their could potentially be a says Michelle Bishop, the voting specialist at the National people with disabilities face obstacles at every part the voting process. While the Americans with Act technically requires that people with disabilities have access to public services, and activities voting, it’s not well enforced. And even when places do have functioning voting machines, there might be other impediments such as to into the or poll workers don’t know how work the accessible the Government Office polling the 2016 election, it found only of places reviewed had no impediments or voting area.
 blockchain technology—incluDing Voatz—iS not yEt a RelIaBle sYsteM, according to MaRK LinDeman, senior science and tEchnoLoGY polICy OfficEr at VerIFiED votInG, a NonPrOFiT that AdvOcates fOr the accurAcy, InTegrity and veRIfIability of EleCtions.

“We thinK it’S great ThAt eLEctioN ofFiciaLs are aRE tryinG bold innoVaTIons to HElp peopLE VoTe. BuT we think this bold iNNoVAtion isn’t ready For priMe TImE,” HE saYs.

TO use the VoaTz SysteM, Voters dOWnLOAD thE voatz app onto tHeir iPhone oR andRoid smArTphONe. They Then sCaN TheIr fingerpriNt anD governmeNt-issuED ID and tAKe a “videO selfiE” to AutHentICaTe TheIr IDenTItY beFOre They can tAp ThE screEn to MARK TheiR diGitaL ballOt. (Voatz says it DelEtes THe Id and fAcial ScanS sOon afTer theY are uSeD.) After casting thEir vOte, the votEr rEcEivEs An emaILed recEipT of Their baLlot to cONfiRm THEIr Choices were marked cOrRECtLy.

ElectiOn offiCIaLs AT the voteR’s JurIsdiCTIon alSo reCEiVe a separAte copY Of ThAt receiPt, Either ThRouGh sEcure EMail, EFax or By logginG into THe the blockchaiN “Lock box,” accordINg TO voATz. ThE voTes themselvEs arE StorEd in THe BloCKchaiN untiL ELEcTIon Day, when election oFfIcials Log inTo the “lock box” pOrtal and prINT Out the baLlotS.

thIS process is much QuickEr and potenTIally morE secuRe than hoW military AND overseaS voTerS cuRreNTLy Cast their ballOTS, PowErS GardneR saYs. While LawS caN vaRy bY sTate, AmeriCans liviNg OvErSeAs tYpicaLLy cast thEiR voTeS thRough PAper maIl, fax Or in MaNy CAseS unsecuREd EMAil. SEnDiNg maIl iNtErnatIonaLLy iS not alwAys reliabLe aND can TaKe Weeks, whIle emailed votEs Are vulneraBlE to HackinG ANd requirE overseas or military voteRS to waivE thEir riGht tO a private BalLot.

For DisABled voTers, caSting A bAllOT On theIR SmArtPhOnes could pOTEntIally Be A gamE-changeR, says Michelle BishoP, The Voting rights sPecIaliST At The nAtIOnaL DISabILIty Rights NetworK. Right now, pEoPLe With disabiLItiEs Face obsTacles aT everY Part of tHe voting pRocess. WhiLe The AMERicAns with DisAbilitieS Act technICally REqUires ThaT peoplE wIth DisabIlitieS HavE acceSs to puBlIc servIces, pRoGrams and Activities such as voting, iT’s not wEll enForCed. And eveN whEN poLling placEs do Have functiOniNg aCcessIblE VotinG macHInEs, tHEre miGht bE Other impeDImEntS SUcH as steps to gET INto The buIldINg or poLl woRkers who don’t know hOW to work the acceSsibLE MacHinE. when ThE Government AccOunTaBILity OffiCe Examined polLing placE aCCessiBility After tHe 2016 electION, iT Found oNly 17% oF poLling placEs rEvIEwed had No ImPEdimenTs ouTsIde or iNside tHE votING area.
 blockchain technology—inc luding Voa tz—is  no t y et  a r elia ble system, ac c ordi ng to Mark Lindeman, s enior  s c ienc e  a nd te chnolog y  p o l icy  o ff ice ra tVerif ied  Voting , a nonpro fit  t hat advocate s  f or the acc ura cy, integrit y a nd ver if iab i lityofelect ions.“We th ink it’sgr e at tha t  electi o n  o ffic ials are are tryi n gb old innovation s to h el p  p e o ple  vo te. But we  t hinkt his bol d  i n n o vat i on isn’t read y for prime tim e,” he  s ays . 

To u se th eV oat z system, v oter s downloa d theV oatz ap p  onto t heir i Pho neor A n dr oi d s ma r tph o ne . T h eythen sca nth eir f inge r p r i nt a ndgove rnmen t-issued ID a ndtake a “ video  self ie”to  auth entica te th ei r identity befo re t hey can t apth e s cr een t o  markthe irdigital  ballot .  (V oa t z sa ys it deletes theID a nd  facialscanss oo na fter the yare  use d . ) Aft er c a st ing thei r vote ,  t he  voterre ceives  a n e mai led r e ceip t of t heir bal lot t o  confirm their choices werem ar k e dc orre ctl y.

Electio n of f icia ls a t  t hev oter’ s jur is d ic t ion also receive ase parate  copy  of that rece ipt, eithe r t hrough s ecur e  e m ail, eFax or b y log ging intot he the b lockc hain “lo ck box,”a c cordingtoVoa tz.  Th e vo tes themselve s arest ored in  th e block cha inunt ilEl ection Da y, whenel ec ti on  of ficia l s log in to  th e“lo ck bo x ” port al an d pr in to utthe bal l ot s . 

Th is  p roce ssis  much  qui c ker  and po tentially  mo r e se cu re  than h ow military a nd  overseasvo ter s curr e n tly cast  their ballots, PowersG ardnersay s. Wh ilelaws canvar y by s tat e , Amer icanslivin gove r s eas t y p ic all ycast their v ote s thr ou gh p aper ma il, fax or in many cas es unsecuredema il.S e nd ing ma i l i nt e rna t i onally is not a lways reli ab l eand can ta k e w ee ks, whi le emai led v o tes are  vulnerab le to hac ki ng a n d  re quire over seas ormilitaryv oters to  waiv e t heir r ig htto aprivat e  ba llot. 

Fordi sabled  vote rs , castin g a ballot on their sma rtphon es co uld  potentia lly bea game-ch ange r, says Mi che lle  Bish op, the v otin g  r igh t s spe cial i st at the Na tio n a lDisabilityR i g hts  Netw ork .  Right  now , people with dis a bilities faceobst a c les  at ever ypart of the vo tin gp r ocess. W hi le the Amer icans wi th Disab ilitie s Acttechnic a l ly requir es t hat  people w ith  d i sabilit ie sh ave ac cess  t o publ ic ser v ices , programs and act iviti e s  such asvotin g,  it’s n o t we ll enforce d. And even  whenpoll ing p laces d ohave f unc ti oning acce s sible vot ing m achines ,ther e m ight b e ot h e r imp edim en tssuch as s t e ps to  g e t i ntothe b ui ldin g or poll workerswho don’t k no w h o w  to wo r kt h e accessib lemachi n e . When the Gove r nm e nt Ac counta bility  Office exa mi ned pol lin g place acc essibilit y  af te r th e 2016 e le ctio n,  it  f ound only 17% o f pollin g places r eviewe d h a d no impedi me nts outsideor in si d e the v o t ing  area.
 blockchain_technology—including Voatz—is_not yet a reliable_system, according_to_Mark Lindeman,_senior_science and technology_policy officer at_Verified Voting, a nonprofit_that advocates for_the_accuracy, integrity and verifiability of elections.

“We think it’s great that election officials are are_trying_bold innovations_to_help_people vote. But we think_this bold innovation isn’t ready_for prime_time,” he says.

To use the Voatz system, voters_download_the Voatz app_onto their iPhone or Android smartphone. They then scan_their fingerprint and government-issued ID and_take a “video_selfie”_to_authenticate their identity before_they can tap the screen to_mark their digital ballot. (Voatz says_it deletes the ID and facial scans_soon after they are used.) After_casting their vote, the voter_receives an_emailed receipt of their ballot_to confirm their_choices were_marked correctly.

Election officials_at the voter’s jurisdiction also receive_a separate copy_of that receipt, either through secure_email,_eFax or by_logging_into_the the_blockchain “lock box,”_according_to Voatz._The_votes themselves are stored in the_blockchain_until Election Day, when election officials log_into the “lock box”_portal_and print out the_ballots.

This process is much quicker_and potentially more secure than how_military and_overseas voters_currently cast their ballots, Powers Gardner says. While laws can vary_by state, Americans living overseas typically_cast their votes through_paper mail,_fax_or in many_cases_unsecured email._Sending mail internationally is not always reliable_and can_take weeks, while emailed votes are_vulnerable to hacking and_require_overseas or military voters to waive_their right to a private ballot.

For_disabled voters, casting a ballot_on_their_smartphones could potentially be a_game-changer, says Michelle Bishop, the voting_rights specialist at_the National Disability Rights Network. Right now,_people_with disabilities face obstacles at every_part_of the voting process. While the_Americans_with_Disabilities Act technically requires that_people with disabilities have access to_public services, programs and activities such as voting, it’s_not well enforced._And even when polling places_do_have_functioning accessible voting machines, there might be other impediments such_as steps_to get into_the building or poll workers who don’t know how to_work the accessible machine. When the Government_Accountability Office examined polling place accessibility after the 2016 election, it_found only 17% of polling places reviewed had_no impediments outside or inside the voting_area.