New York State Assemblyman Clyde Vanel has introduced Assembly Bill AA7716, which urges the State Board of Elections to explore blockchain technology to protect voters’ data and ensure the integrity of election results.
The proposed bill aims to assess how blockchain can improve transparency and security within the electoral process.
The bill currently under review by the Assembly Election Law Committee focuses on exploring the use of blockchain technology to improve U.S. elections. If passed, the New York Board of Elections will require a formal study on enhancing voter record security and transparency in election results. The Board will collaborate with the Office of Information Technology Services and consult various experts. Findings, including case studies from other states successfully implementing similar technologies, must be presented within one year of the bill’s enactment. The Assembly and State levels must approve the legislation before reaching the governor for final approval.
Vanel, a long-time advocate for cryptocurrency and blockchain, recently teamed up with Maryland Delegate Adrian Boafo to encourage Democratic lawmakers to establish a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. This is not the first time Vanel has proposed such legislation; in 2017, he introduced a similar bill, though it did not pass.
The idea of using blockchain technology to secure elections is gaining traction. In March 2024, the permissionless zero-knowledge registry Rarimo launched the Freedom Tool, a digital identity protocol designed to revolutionize electoral systems using blockchain. Unlike traditional voting methods, the Freedom Tool ensures each vote is anonymous and verifiable, promoting a secure and transparent voting process.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Republican candidates Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, who received backing from the crypto industry’s PAC, Fairshake, won special elections in the 1st and 15th Congressional Districts. Patronis emerged victorious with 57% of the vote, defeating Democrat Gay Valimont for a seat once held by Matt Gaetz.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
