I don’t fully understand what’s involved in Bitcoin’s verification process, but I was thinking each voter would have their Social Security Number (or voter ID# if they are eligible to vote but don’t have a SSN—not sure if that’s possible), a private 6-digit pin, and then the results of their candidate selection (Clinton = some value, Trump = different value, etc.) all hashed together using some public formula.

This number (a private key) could then be uploaded to the polling location’s computer which based on the same/similar methods that bitcoin uses for verification (I’m not entirely sure how this part works) would be verified and updated. Periodically all local numbers are uploaded to the master server in a secure manner. The voter would get a printout of a unique number, and a hardcopy ballot is also generated with the only identifying info being that same number.

The voter could could then input that number into a field on the official election website later along with their SSN and PIN and it would allow them to see confirmation that their vote was actually recorded for who they selected, but it’s just a number so it doesn’t reveal their candidate selection to anyone else. Also, if done correctly, all numbers must be built on the ones before it the way Bitcoin works, which means either the entire election is valid, or invalid and it’s impossible to tamper with the vote without breaking the checksum, (or however the process is verified).

Is this possible, or is my ignorance of how Bitcoin works causing me to make false assumptions about what’s mathematically possible? One major benefit is that voter fraud would be nearly impossible, because it requires a valid SSN to be used (only once per election), along with a PIN. Not that Republicans would want to listen to reason, but it would eliminate arguments for why we need voter suppression laws, and provide peace-of-mind that our democracy isn’t being stolen.