West Virginia will use blockchain-backed smartphone voting in 2018 midterms

A new pilot program in West Virginia aims to take voting into the technological future. In doing so, the state has cast its eye toward one of the most popular tech buzzwords of 2018.

West Virginia has contracted the Boston company Voatz to enable voting via smartphone for troops overseas in the 2018 midterm elections, according to CNN. Members of the military will be able to cast their ballots using an app, with voting data recorded on a blockchain. 

Troops will still be able to cast paper ballots if they prefer. 

To use the app, voters will have to submit a photo of their government issued ID, as well as, um, a selfie video. Voatz' facial recognition technology will ensure that the person voting in the selfie video matches the ID.  Read more...