Why You Should Be Able to Vote on Your Phone | Bradley Tusk | TED

Summary

In this powerful talk, the speaker highlights the flaws in modern democracy, particularly in the U.S., where politicians often make decisions solely based on winning the next election. The issue of gerrymandering and low voter turnout are discussed as key factors contributing to government dysfunction. The speaker proposes mobile voting as a solution, showcasing its success in specific cases, and argues that mobile voting could increase voter engagement and security. The talk concludes with a call to action, urging people to demand changes to make voting more accessible and fair.

Takeaways

• 😀 Politicians often make decisions based on winning the next election rather than what's best for their constituents or the country.
• 😀 Gerrymandering, the practice of manipulating voting district boundaries, makes elections less representative, leading to low voter turnout and extreme candidates winning.
• 😀 The majority of people, particularly in the center, agree on solutions to most issues, but they don't vote in primaries, leaving politicians to cater to the extremes.
• 😀 Voter turnout is often extremely low, especially in local elections, making it possible to win elections with very few votes, which benefits the extremes of the political spectrum.
• 😀 Low voter turnout and the control of special interests over elections result in dysfunction and chaos in government.
• 😀 The key to improving the political system is increasing voter participation by making voting more accessible, especially through mobile phones.
• 😀 Mobile voting has already been successfully implemented for specific groups like military personnel and people with disabilities, showing it can increase turnout and voter satisfaction.
• 😀 A mobile voting app can simplify the voting process by verifying identity, presenting a clear and simple ballot, and offering tracking capabilities for transparency and security.
• 😀 Mobile voting technology is secure, as it uses encryption, anonymization, and offline air-gapping of ballots to protect voter information.
• 😀 Making mobile voting available could improve voter access without replacing traditional voting methods, offering people a new, convenient option to vote.
• 😀 Mobile voting could also integrate additional features such as voter registration, nonpartisan candidate information, and transparent auditing of the process, making it a comprehensive solution to voter engagement.

Q & A

What is the main issue with how politicians make decisions, according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that politicians make decisions primarily based on winning the next election, rather than considering what is best for their constituents or the country. This focus on short-term electoral gains results in decisions that cater to the extremes of the political spectrum.

How does gerrymandering affect elections in the United States?

Gerrymandering allows political parties to divide legislative districts in ways that ensure their own electoral success. This means that in many elections, the only races that matter are the party primaries, where voter turnout is often very low and dominated by extreme political factions.

Why does the speaker believe low voter turnout is a problem in democratic elections?

Low voter turnout leads to elections being decided by a small, unrepresentative portion of the electorate, typically the far-left or far-right. This skews policies and leads to governments that are either highly dysfunctional or overly partisan, ignoring the views of the majority of people who are more moderate.

What role does technology play in solving the problem of voter turnout?

Technology, particularly mobile voting, is seen as a solution to increase voter turnout. By allowing people to vote via their phones, it becomes easier and more accessible, enabling a broader range of people to participate in elections without the barriers of location, time, or traditional voting methods.

How did the speaker contribute to the campaign to legalize Uber?

The speaker helped run campaigns to legalize Uber by mobilizing customers to directly contact their elected officials via the app. This allowed the public to advocate for Uber's interests and influenced mayors and city council members to support the company.

What was the impact of the Mobile Voting Project?

The Mobile Voting Project, which allowed certain groups like military personnel and people with disabilities to vote on their phones, saw a significant increase in voter turnout—tripling in some cases. This demonstrated that making voting more accessible through mobile technology was well-received by voters.

What security measures are in place to ensure mobile voting is safe and secure?

Mobile voting involves several layers of security: multi-factor authentication to verify identity, facial recognition to match voters to government IDs, encryption of the ballot, anonymization, and tracking codes to follow the ballot through the process. The system is also open-source, allowing anyone to audit and verify the code.

Why does the speaker believe mobile voting is more secure than current voting methods?

The speaker believes mobile voting is more secure because the system involves encryption, anonymization, and offline decryption of ballots. Additionally, it provides transparency with tracking codes and is open-source, making it easier to audit and verify than traditional voting methods.

What challenges does the speaker anticipate in implementing mobile voting widely in the US?

The biggest challenge is convincing politicians to allow mobile voting, as those in power often resist changes that could reduce their control. The speaker suggests that such reforms will only happen if the public demands them loudly and persistently.

How does the speaker envision the future of voting in the next ten years?

The speaker envisions a future where mobile voting is widely available, making voting more accessible and secure. This would allow more people to participate, reduce political polarization, and help politicians work together to solve problems. They believe these changes could happen within the next decade.