- New York’s Assembly Bill A7716 mandates a detailed study on the use in safeguarding election results and voter records.
- The bill defines blockchain as cryptographically secured, tamper-resistant, and auditable to ensure transparency and data integrity.
- The proposal marks New York’s latest move to explore innovative technologies for public trust and secure election processes.
New York State Assemblyman Clyde Vanel filed Assembly Bill A7716 on April 8, directing the State Board of Elections to assess how blockchain technology could improve the security of voter records and election results. The legislation mandates collaboration with cybersecurity, blockchain, and election system experts, with findings to be submitted within a year.
According to the bill, blockchain is described as a decentralized ledger that can be public or private and permissioned or permissionless. The proposed use includes cryptographic protections and immutability, intending to deliver data that is tamper-proof and verifiable. The definition aligns blockchain with the concept of providing “uncensored truth” in record-keeping.
State Board to Collaborate with IT Services and Experts
The legislation specifies that the State Board of Elections will work alongside the Office of Information Technology Services to collect and analyze data. Their joint evaluation will involve specialists in election security, voter records, and digital systems to ensure a thorough review of blockchain’s applicability and effectiveness in electoral processes.
The proposal in New York comes as the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency recently considered a federal blockchain-based voting and ID verification system. Potential collaborators for that federal system include technology platforms such as Cardano, Hyperledger, Hedera, and X. These developments indicate a broader governmental interest in exploring blockchain for electoral integrity.
Vanel’s History with Blockchain Legislation in New York
The assemblyman demonstrated previous support for blockchain technology through legislative initiatives. Vanel introduced four bills during 2017 to support blockchain research studies at the state level for different governmental operations. Through ongoing effort he demonstrates his dedication to using technology for enhancing public system transparency and data protection.
Observers have noted that the bill represents a growing interest in leveraging advanced technologies to enhance trust in electoral infrastructure. Podcast commentators highlighted that decentralized systems like blockchain can help reduce interference, human error, and data manipulation by securing every transaction in a transparent and traceable way.
