Using an app to vote? West Virginia 1st state to test the technology
West Virginia is testing a new secure mobile voting application to help active-duty military members vote in the upcoming May primary election.
Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) announced the pilot program on Wednesday afternoon. It will initially be limited to military voters and their spouses and children who are registered to vote in Harrison and Monongalia ｃounties. However, the state plans to expand the program to all 55 ｃounties in the upcoming November general election if the pilot proves successful.
The app is powered by Blockchain, a type of technology used to secure cryptocurrency that has gained increased attention with the rising popularity of digital currencies such as bitcoin. The technology has already been [used] in health care and other industries to secure data.
Security experts…have increasingly pointed to blockchain technology as a way to secure election systems and ensure confidence in future votes.
West Virginia is the first state to test out a blockchain-based application to administer a federal election.
“West Virginia is taking the lead in providing safe, secure and accurate voting systems to encourage voter participation at every level,” Warner said in a statement. “We’re working hard to increase the level of confidence citizens have in our election process. Increased confidence results in increased participation.”
In order to sign up for the new program, military voters in the two ｃounties need to apply for special absentee status and download the secure app on an Apple or Android phone or tablet.
Military members registered vote in West Virginia are currently allowed to cast ballots by mail, fax and email.
The app was designed by Boston-based tech startup Voatz, which secured more than $2 million in funding earlier this year to develop blockchain voting technology. It encrypts data to ensure the voter’s ballot is securely transmitted.
The West Virginia primary will take place on May 8.
Article Source:https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/using-an-app-to-vote-west-virginia-1st-state-to-test-the-technology/
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VOCABULARY WORDS
1.Upcoming/adjective: forthcoming; about to happen.
2.Initially/adverb: at first.
3.Cryptocurrency/noun: a digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.
4.Blockchain/noun: a digital ledger in which transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are recorded chronologically and publicly.
5.Participation/noun: the action of taking part in something.
6.Transmit/verb: cause (something) to pass on from one place or person to another.
7.Increase/verb: become or make greater in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
8.Election/noun: a formal and organized process of electing or being elected, especially of members of a political body.
9.Pilot/noun: a person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft.
10.Expert/noun: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. (In this article, 1st and 2nd paragraphs). List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)
2. a) What will West Virginia do if the pilot program is successful?
b) How will the state election board know if the program is successful (that the app is recording all votes (and correctly)?
3. Describe the technology the app will use.
4. What is significant about West Virginia’s pilot program?
5. Do you think using an app to vote a good idea? Please explain your answer.
