Thailand Leads the Way in Implementing Blockchain for Elections
Thailand made history in November 2018 as the first worldwide to use blockchain technology for a live e-voting system. The Democrat Party, in particular, spearheaded this groundbreaking initiative, using the Zcoin Blockchain for a voting period from 1st to 9th November.
To ensure the utmost security of the voting information, the Shamir's Secret Sharing Scheme was employed. This method required multiple keys to access any system, making it nearly impossible for unauthorised individuals to interfere with the voting process.
The mobile application of this blockchain technology in a political election of such scale resulted in a total of 127,479 votes from all over Thailand. This marked a significant milestone in the world of e-voting.
The app used advanced technology, including facial recognition, to secure the votes. Voters were allowed to cast their ballots in two ways: through voting stations equipped with a Raspberry Pi-based voting system and through a blockchain-based application called D-Elect.
The success of this e-voting has paved the way for blockchain adoption, suggesting potential for other countries to follow suit. However, some government officials remain sceptical about the use of Blockchain in voting due to its complexity, security risks, and decentralized structure.
Poramin Insom, the founder and lead developer of Zcoin, expressed his pride in Zcoin playing a role in making Thailand's first large-scale e-vote a reality.
Meanwhile, in West Virginia, a blockchain-based app developed by Voatz was used for a trial in midterm federal elections. This allowed military personnel living abroad to cast votes through a mobile app. West Virginia also enlisted the services of a blockchain development firm for this trial.
Similarly, a Swiss City trial used Blockchain technology for municipal voting, issuing digital identities for voters.
Aside from elections, Blockchain has gone beyond just cryptocurrencies and is being used in various industries. Its accuracy and potential to manage data with ease have made it increasingly relied upon in the healthcare, finance, and business sectors.
With the growing demand for Blockchain development services, many companies are going for specialization in this field. The voting information in Thailand's e-voting was stored in a decentralized and distributed file system called IPFS, further highlighting the versatility of this revolutionary technology.
In the end, the Democrat Party's pioneering use of Blockchain technology in Thailand's election resulted in former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva winning the election with 67,505 votes, while his rival, Warong Dechgitvigrom, received 57,689 votes. This victory serves as a testament to the potential of Blockchain technology in transforming traditional voting systems.
