New York Assemblymember Clyde Vanel introduced a bill on April 8 that could bring blockchain into the heart of the state’s election infrastructure. Titled Bill A07716, the proposal directs the state Board of Elections to conduct a comprehensive study on how blockchain technology could be used to protect voter records and election results.
One-Year Deadline for Blockchain Feasibility Report
The bill, currently under review by the Assembly Election Law Committee, requires the Board of Elections to deliver a report within one year. The report must evaluate the benefits and challenges of integrating blockchain into election systems. It will also include insights from professionals in blockchain, cybersecurity, election recordkeeping, and voter fraud prevention.
According to the bill’s summary, the aim is to assess how blockchain’s transparency and immutability could bolster trust and integrity in election outcomes.
This is not the first time blockchain has been explored for voting-related use cases. In March, the Williamson County Republican Party in Tennessee used the Bitcoin network to store and secure the results of their internal elections. The move was hailed as a potential proof of concept for broader blockchain adoption in electoral processes.
Experts Warn Blockchain Is No Silver Bullet
Despite the growing interest, experts continue to warn that blockchain is not a catch-all solution. While the technology can offer tamper-resistant data storage, it does not guarantee the accuracy of the data entered into the system. The well-known phrase “garbage in, garbage out” remains a cautionary reminder that secure infrastructure still depends on reliable input data.
As Bill A07716 progresses through legislative channels, its findings could shape the future of how elections are secured—not just in New York, but across the United States.
