Nevada Implements Blockchain to Enhance Election Security Following Fake Electors Scandal

On December 10, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar announced the introduction of blockchain technology into the state's electoral certification process, marking a significant step toward ensuring election integrity. This move comes more than a month after the resolution of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, raising questions about the timing of the announcement.

While the state’s shift to blockchain technology appears to be a proactive measure for future elections, the exact rationale for implementing it in December, after the 2024 election concluded, remains unclear. Nevertheless, Aguilar’s office emphasized that the decision reflects the state’s commitment to running the most secure elections in the country. According to Aguilar, blockchain technology will play a critical role in achieving this goal, stating:

“Blockchain adds important protection by making it much more difficult to alter or counterfeit these vital documents, ensuring that our certification process is both transparent and trustworthy. We are proud to lead the nation in utilizing emerging technology to protect the integrity of our elections.”

Enhancing Transparency and Trust

The announcement noted that the electoral certification process will now be recorded on an immutable blockchain ledger, serving as the state's official election record. The use of blockchain technology is expected to improve transparency by making it more difficult to tamper with or alter election documents once they are certified. However, details regarding the specific blockchain framework to be used remain sparse. It is still unclear whether Nevada has developed a proprietary blockchain or if it will rely on existing commercial or open-source solutions. Cointelegraph reached out to the Secretary of State’s office for further clarification but did not receive an immediate response.

A Response to the Fake Elector Controversy

The timing of this move follows Nevada's involvement in a high-profile scandal related to "fake electors" during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In 2023, six Republican electors in Nevada were indicted on charges of attempting to unlawfully alter the outcome of the election. Though the charges were later dismissed in court, the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in the electoral certification process. Two of the indicted individuals, Michael McDonald, Chair of the Nevada Republican Party, and Jesse Law, Chair of the Clark County Republican Party, went on to serve as legitimate electors in the 2024 election.

By introducing blockchain technology, Nevada aims to ensure that similar incidents cannot happen again and to bolster public confidence in the electoral process. The new system is expected to provide an additional layer of security and verification, making it harder to manipulate the official results in future elections.

A Growing Trend Across U.S. States

Nevada’s adoption of blockchain for electoral certification places it at the forefront of a growing movement in the U.S. to leverage emerging technology in the election process. While details of Nevada’s implementation remain limited, other states have already piloted similar systems. Alaska and Georgia have tested blockchain-based electoral programs, and several other states are considering similar initiatives at various stages of development.

If Nevada's blockchain certification system proves successful, the state will join an increasingly small group of jurisdictions that use blockchain to ensure the integrity and transparency of their elections, setting an example for other states to follow.

Looking Ahead

The next step for Nevada will involve certification by state and national archives, after which the blockchain-based certification system will officially become part of the state’s election process. As the country grapples with ongoing concerns about election security, Nevada’s bold step could pave the way for broader adoption of blockchain technology in safeguarding electoral integrity.