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A simpler variation on this system is for the ballot keypair to be generated by the voter, and then the public key given to the registrar to "register" for the

A simpler variation on this system is for the ballot keypair to be generated by the voter, and then the public key given to the registrar to "register" for the election. The registrar publishes all the registered ballots signed by their key. All the registrar does is ensure eligible voters submit a public key to register. This would require a voter to register in person or a national ID card that could be used to sign the ballot public key.

rawgabbit 6y ago
If I understand correctly, you are saying when the voter goes to the DMV or US post office - a registrar can instruct the voter to download a voting app on his phone. The registrar activates the app and generates the key pair. The registrar records the voter’s public key. The voter can now use the app to vote and his votes are encrypted using his private key which can be read using the recorded public key. Every election cycle or if he loses his phone the voter needs to go back to the registrar. Is there anything I am missing?
- alexmingoia 6y ago
  Yup. Or if a national ID system was put in place they wouldn’t need to go to the registrar, since the ID would have a key pair to prove eligibility remotely.
  - JoeAltmaier 6y ago
    There have been dystopian stories written about such schemes. The ID card essentially becomes a 'voting voucher'. You have to possess it to vote. Employers then demand your ID card as a term of employment. The voting system becomes a corporate power grab, and the resulting disenfranchising of everybody becomes a new form of society.
    - alexmingoia 6y ago
      That would be illegal, and quite difficult to hide, since presumably you need the ID card for other things. The larger the company is the more difficult it is to keep this a secret. A company can already compel you to vote, because all states allow mail-in ballots. It would be pretty hard to announce this to everyone while simultaneously keeping it a secret.
      - JoeAltmaier 6y ago
        Illegal? What makes us think that unrestricted corporate power isn't going to continue? In the story, its become an ordinary fact of life. In fact, once you have somebody's card you have their life. They can kill employees if its convenient. But its just a story.

rawgabbit 6y ago

If I understand correctly, you are saying when the voter goes to the DMV or US post office - a registrar can instruct the voter to download a voting app on his phone. The registrar activates the app and generates the key pair. The registrar records the voter’s public key. The voter can now use the app to vote and his votes are encrypted using his private key which can be read using the recorded public key. Every election cycle or if he loses his phone the voter needs to go back to the registrar. Is there anything I am missing?

alexmingoia 6y ago
Yup. Or if a national ID system was put in place they wouldn’t need to go to the registrar, since the ID would have a key pair to prove eligibility remotely.
- JoeAltmaier 6y ago
  There have been dystopian stories written about such schemes. The ID card essentially becomes a 'voting voucher'. You have to possess it to vote. Employers then demand your ID card as a term of employment. The voting system becomes a corporate power grab, and the resulting disenfranchising of everybody becomes a new form of society.
  - alexmingoia 6y ago
    That would be illegal, and quite difficult to hide, since presumably you need the ID card for other things. The larger the company is the more difficult it is to keep this a secret. A company can already compel you to vote, because all states allow mail-in ballots. It would be pretty hard to announce this to everyone while simultaneously keeping it a secret.
    - JoeAltmaier 6y ago
      Illegal? What makes us think that unrestricted corporate power isn't going to continue? In the story, its become an ordinary fact of life. In fact, once you have somebody's card you have their life. They can kill employees if its convenient. But its just a story.