GENEVA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland's Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) unveiled a new blockchain voting system on Friday, which claims to provide a tamper-proof method for conducting e-voting in the country.
It's the second blockchain e-voting system next to a blockchain voting trial in the canton of Zug which is running for a whole week starting from Monday. Researchers say the EPFL blockchain system guarantees both the anonymity of voters and a secure digital method of casting and counting votes.
The EPFL's system is carried out by several separately managed machines, or nodes, rather than a central authority, thus diluting the risk of vote manipulation from hackers or other malicious actors.
This is achieved by requiring a majority of nodes to agree that the data contained within the system is accurate. If anyone tries to change a vote, they would have to fool numerous independent checkers rather than one. A would-be hacker would also be confronted with having to get through the defenses of several parties rather than one centralized point of entry.
Blockchain generates unique codes, or private keys, for each user, which would protect voters' identity. Such a system allows users to retain control over their private data, preventing its misuse by third parties.
Earlier on Monday, the Swiss canton of Zug started a blockchain voting trial asking citizens a series of survey questions. Though the vote results will carry no impact, the blockchain system could be rolled out to cover public votes on more weighty issues, if it achieves a satisfactory level of performance in the pilot phase.
Also this week, the Swiss government said it's mulling to permanently introduce an electronic voting system as an alternative to paper ballots in elections and votes. Last year, the government decided in principle to expand e-voting options across the country, putting in place e-voting in at least 18 of the country's 26 cantons by October 2019.
