Switzerland has definitely jumped on board of the cryptocurrency train… by becoming the first country with a city using blockchain to power a municipal vote. Canton of Zug, (also known as Zug for short), a city in Switzerland, has become the first city in Europe to hold a municipal vote powered by blockchain technology. This will be done by usage of an Ethereum-based application named “UPort.” ID information of the local residents will become digitalized with UPort, but since this is still the trial phase, the votes will not be binding.
The new e-voting was signed up by over 200 residents. One benefit of the new blockchain-powered system is that there is the possibility of electron fraud to be removed and longer become an issue. The residents will be able to vote using their digital ID.
UPort stated:
“After downloading the UPort mobile app, a Zug citizen registers their UPort ID on the Ethereum blockchain. This globally unique identifier is the public address of a smart contract known as a UPort Proxy Contract.”
The municipal voting will include items such as “On whether they are in favor of fireworks at the annual Lakeside Festival and whether they think digital IDs should be used to borrow books from the library or pay parking fees. Users will also be asked if the blockchain-based digital ID system should be used for regular referendum votes in [the] future.”
The outcome of this blockchain-powered municipal vote could be a _total game changer_for not only Canton of Zug, but also for cities around the world.
As cryptocurrency grows, its uses continue to expand. The fact that Canton of Zug in Switzerland is willing to be the first city to use cryptocurrency for voting shows other cities the potential uses for blockchain technology such as Ethereum.
If you were part of the city Canton of Zug, would you have been one of the 200 residents voting using UPort? How do you feel about blockchain technology powering a municipal vote? Is this just the beginning? Tell us your thoughts and comments!!
SEE MORE HERE:
www.trustnodes.com/2018/06/09/zug-trial-blockchain-voting-ethereums-uport
http://www.swisscommunity.org/en/explore-switzerland/zug/multimedia