= Better security and transparency using Blockchain technology, being tested for use in private elections =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea announced that it completed the development of an online voting system using Blockchain technology and will hold voting tests during private elections and conduct evaluation surveys starting November 29. 

The newly developed Blockchain-based online voting system significantly enhances transparency and security over existing online voting by applying Blockchain technology to voter authentication as well as saving and verifying results.

The NEC plans to apply the Blockchain-based online voting system to small and medium sized private elections first to collect opinions on the system before gradually expanding its scope. 

On November 29, Seoul National University (SNU) Blockchain Association held an election on how to run the organization using the Blockchain online voting service for the first time, and after the vote the NEC plans to work together with the Blockchain Association to verify security and integrity. In early December, the NEC plans to provide this service to employees of the Korea Financial Investment Association.

Online voting is a trend that is showing increasing demand in various areas including for party primaries and elections for representatives of apartment blocks. In the case of the existing K-Voting system, a total of 5.64 million people in 4,516 elections have used the system as of the end of October 2018.

Based on the results of tests on the Blockchain online voting system, the NEC will establish a basis for the future introduction of online voting in public official elections, and election services will be further developed through the convergence of election management and technology that includes the fourth industrial revolution including elements such as artificial intelligence, Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT). 

Block Chain-Based Online Voting System

• Blockchain is a technique to prevent data forgery or counterfeiting based on distributed computing, and it can increase security and transparency of information because it is safe from attempts to attack it including hacking. This can ensure the credibility of online voting processes and results.

• Unlike the existing online voting system (K-Voting), information such as voter identification details and the vote itself is recorded in blocks, and the saved Blockchain consists of distributed systems stored on multiple nodes, making it almost impossible to manipulate voting results. 

• In addition, existing online voting did not allow stakeholders, including candidates, to directly observe voting and counting procedures. However, the Blockchain online voting system can secure increased public trust in elections by giving stakeholders access to the nodes and therefore enabling them to compare and verify the results of voting and counting saved in each node. ​