BCSC elections mono

Summary

Eugene Moroso and Nitin Shani discuss the potential of technology to improve democracy, focusing on secure and verifiable election systems. Moroso emphasizes the historical moment of government interest in technology, while Shani shares the accidental origin of his company, Votes, which aims to address access and identity challenges in modern democracy. They highlight the use of blockchain for transparent and indisputable elections, with Votes already facilitating elections in multiple countries, including innovative projects in the US and Mexico.

Takeaways

• 🙋‍♂️ Eugene Moroso introduces himself as a representative of a community that believes in the power of technology to improve lives.
• 🏛️ The speaker expresses gratitude to the hosts and acknowledges the presence of government officials as both an honor and a challenge.
• 🌐 The script highlights a historical moment with governments showing interest in technology and potential as customers.
• 🛡️ There's an emphasis on the need to convince the government of the trustworthiness of technology solutions to avoid legal repercussions.
• 🔄 The speaker mentions the complexity of local election laws and the variability across different counties in the U.S.
• 📱 Technology is presented as a means to conduct indisputable elections through verifiable environments on mobile devices.
• 🔒 The importance of maintaining voter anonymity while ensuring the integrity of the voting process is underscored.
• 🗳️ Nimi Shani shares the accidental origin story of Votes, starting from a hackathon and leading to the creation of a company focused on remote ballot marking and return.
• 🔑 The company aims to solve key challenges in modern democracy: access and identity verification in elections.
• 🌍 Votes has been used in elections across seven countries, emphasizing its global impact and acceptance.
• 🛑 The script addresses common opposition to online voting, highlighting the need for systems that can thrive despite internet threats.
• 📊 The speaker introduces the Digital Democracy Project in Florida, which allows voters to weigh in on bills, adding a layer of transparency and direct democracy.

Q & A

Who is Eugene Moroso and what does he represent?

Eugene Moroso represents a broad and eclectic community who share a belief in the potential of technology to substantially improve lives.

What is the significance of the event Eugene Moroso is attending?

The event is significant because it represents a historical moment where governments are engaging with technology vendors, potentially becoming customers and showing interest in the benefits of technology.

What is the challenge Eugene Moroso mentions that technology vendors face?

The challenge is convincing the government that they can be trusted and that adopting their technology solutions will not lead to negative consequences such as legal issues.

What does Eugene Moroso suggest as a tool for government officials to use?

He suggests that government officials use the Blockchain-based Military Medicine (BMM) reference as one tool to help them make informed decisions about technology contracts.

Why is the government considered the most difficult customer according to Eugene Moroso?

The government is considered the most difficult customer due to the lengthy and complex procurement process, which can involve a yearlong sales cycle and numerous documentation requirements.

What is the common problem Eugene Moroso identifies in elections worldwide?

The common problem identified is doubt in election results, which can stem from issues like corruption, fraud, and tempering.

How does Eugene Moroso propose to remove doubt from election results?

He proposes using technology to conduct indisputable elections by having voting done through a verifiable environment on mobile devices, recording directly to a public blockchain.

Who is Nitin Shani and what is his connection to the discussion?

Nitin Shani is a pioneer in the field of remote ballot marking and return. His company, Voatz, has conducted elections for several million Americans, and he is introduced by Eugene Moroso to speak further on the topic.

What was the origin of Voatz according to Nitin Shani?

The origin of Voatz was accidental, starting as a project at a hackathon called 'Hack to the Future' where they won the first prize, which led to the formation of the company.

What are the two key challenges of modern democracy that Voatz aims to address?

Voatz aims to address the challenges of providing access to traditionally underserved populations and ensuring accurate voter identification to maintain the principle of one person, one vote.

How has Voatz been utilized in different countries?

Voatz has been used in elections across North America, including the US and Canada, and more recently in Mexico for the first time, allowing overseas Mexicans to vote online.

What is the Digital Democracy Project mentioned by Nitin Shani?

The Digital Democracy Project is an initiative in Florida where all 15 million registered voters can use Voatz to vote on bills, providing real-time transparency and feedback to elected representatives.