Heading towards 2020, we should prepare for a significant public debate relating to smartphone applications created especiallyto boost turnout and participation in elections in the future.

The Democratic Party has purportedly announced in July, that they intend to allow telephone voting in replacement of the neighbourhood caucus meetings held in the primary states of Nevada and Iowa.

Jurisdictions across the country have started to experiment with blockchain-based solutions for allowing absentee voters to submit their votes throughaballot system, keeping in mind the issues regarding reliability and security of submitting votes over the internet platform. Similar to the original pilot programs in West Virginia and Denver, Utah will be the new jurisdiction to implement a blockchain-based mobile for its upcoming municipal elections, both primary and general.

The pilot program will usethe mobile voting applicationcalled“Voatz”and will allow active-duty military, their eligible dependents and overseas voters to hold ballots for absentee voters.

Voters who are eligible will require to apply for the absentee ballot system with the county clerk, and later download the mobile app. The ballot will unlock through the smartphone’s biometric data (face recognition feature or fingerprint) and after that, will be distributed in the blockchain network for counting.