Romania has set a precedent in the European Union by incorporating blockchain technology into its presidential election process. The country’s electoral authority, AEP, utilized the technology during the first round of the presidential elections held on November 24. This move positions Romania as a trailblazer in integrating blockchain into national voting systems, according to Profit.ro.
In collaboration with the Special Telecommunications Service (STS), AEP developed a real-time results tracking portal. The data collected from polling stations was recorded on the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI), a peer-to-peer network established by the European Commission. This network spans all EU member states, along with Norway and Liechtenstein.
Real-Time Transparency and Enhanced Trust
The blockchain-enabled system allowed data from polling stations to be logged as transactions on the network. This information was displayed live on a public dashboard, offering citizens an unprecedented level of transparency. The STS emphasized that the system enhanced the resilience of Romania’s electoral framework by improving data traceability and fostering trust in the integrity of election data.
EBSI’s transactions included both public data and hashed private information, ensuring privacy throughout the entire process. Decentralization was achieved by hosting the network’s nodes across various national and regional authorities and academic institutions. This setup aimed to safeguard the integrity and reliability of the election data.
Global Context of Blockchain Voting
While blockchain voting has been trialed in Europe, its implementation has largely been restricted to smaller-scale elections, such as local government or party polls. Romania’s initiative is among the most ambitious within the EU, considering the large electorate of 18 million eligible voters, with over half participating in the presidential elections.
Outside Europe, countries have been experimenting with blockchain voting for years. In 2018, Sierra Leone became the first nation to incorporate the technology into its national elections. Despite its promise, widespread adoption has faced challenges, primarily due to the scalability limitations of existing blockchain networks.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Romania’s use of blockchain for national elections highlights the potential of the technology to enhance transparency and trust in democratic processes. However, challenges remain, particularly in scaling blockchain systems to accommodate millions of voters without compromising efficiency or data integrity.
This development may inspire other nations to explore blockchain for electoral purposes, though it underscores the need for further technological advancements to address existing limitations. As blockchain continues to evolve, its role in reshaping voting systems could pave the way for more secure and transparent elections worldwide.
By successfully leveraging blockchain, Romania has demonstrated a forward-thinking approach that may serve as a model for other EU member states and beyond, potentially ushering in a new era of trust and innovation in global electoral systems.