According to Cointelegraph, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar has announced the integration of blockchain technology into the state's electoral certification process. This development, revealed on December 10, comes after the conclusion of the 2024 United States presidential election. Aguilar's office emphasizes that this move aims to enhance election integrity in the future.
Aguilar stated that Nevada is dedicated to conducting the most secure elections in the nation, with blockchain technology playing a crucial role in these efforts. He highlighted that blockchain provides significant protection by making it more challenging to alter or counterfeit essential documents, thereby ensuring a transparent and trustworthy certification process. Nevada takes pride in leading the nation in adopting emerging technology to safeguard election integrity.
Currently, details about the implementation are limited. It remains unclear whether Nevada has developed its proprietary blockchain or is utilizing existing commercial or open-source blockchain technology. Cointelegraph reached out to the secretary's office for further information but has not yet received a response. The electoral certification process is expected to be recorded on an immutable blockchain ledger, serving as the state's official election record.
The next phase involves certification by the state and national archives, positioning Nevada among the first US states to employ blockchain technology for electoral certification. Alaska and Georgia have piloted similar initiatives, and numerous other states have proposals at various stages of implementation.
Nevada's commitment to bolstering election integrity follows the 2023 indictment of six Republican certifiers amid allegations of "fake electors" attempting to unlawfully overturn the 2020 US presidential election results. The indictment was later dismissed in court. Among those indicted were Nevada Republican chair Michael McDonald and Clark County Republican chair Jesse Law, who eventually served as legitimate electors in the 2024 presidential race.
Catherine
