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The November 5, 2024 election went pretty well, but far from perfect. The election faced various issues for voters across the country, from misinformation and cybersecurity threats to logistical problems at polling sites. There were some localized challenges, such as delays, equipment and software issues. Administrative issues potentially hindered smooth voting operations. Moreover, some polling sites across the nation had bomb threats, particularly in swing states, leading to temporary evacuations and heightened security concerns, though these incidents were resolved without harm. Polling place and election workers made efforts to ensure voter access despite the obstacles faced. When counting is finished and statistics are compiled, it seems likely we will see a record turnout. Nevertheless, there were millions of eligible registered voters who did not vote. The list of reasons why is quite long. The bottom line is we can do much better.
The purpose of this article is to share my vision for the overall process, not just the voting. The changes I am suggesting would require action by Congress, and we all know how hard it is to get Congress to agree on anything, so my vision will not happen soon. My suggestion has three parts.
First is to make it easy to register to vote. Currently, 43 states offer online voter registration, making it accessible to most eligible citizens. All states should offer online registration. Online voter registration allows citizens to register more conveniently and includes identity verification requirements, which vary by state. This system is part of broader efforts to streamline the voting process and make it easier for more citizens to participate in elections.
Only 23 states have some form of open primary, allowing voters who are not registered with a specific party to participate in that party’s primary elections. Some of the 23 have restrictive rules. I believe every registered voter should have a voice in selecting who the general election candidates will be. What we have today is basically a two-party system. We need at least five – Democrat, Progressive Democrat, Republican, Conservative Republican, and Independent. The top 5 candidates from the open primary would then become the slate for the general election.
The second part of my vision is to use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for the general election. Maine and Alaska have already adopted RCV. Nearly 3 million voters across the nation voted for ranked choice voting this week. Most of the states with RCV on the ballot voted for the status quo. I would like to see all states move to RCV. I think this will happen, but it will take time. Voters have been confused about RCV and the implementation has not been as smooth as it could be. There are significant advantages to the use of RCV.
Instead of voting for one of the two major parties, with RCV, voters would rank the five candidates, first choice, second choice, etc. The candidate who received the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Next, each ballot cast for the losing candidate would have its second, third, fourth, and fifth choices transferred to the vote totals for the remaining four candidates. The roll-up elimination process continues until a candidate receives a majority and is deemed the winner. More on how this works at johnpatrick.com.
Sometimes called instant run-off voting, ranked choice voting is an alternative method of voting which Internet voting could make easy. Ranked choice voting can avoid split votes and counter-majoritarian outcomes. Often, candidates win election to offices like Mayor or Governor despite being opposed by most voters. That’s because when more than two candidates run, a majority of votes may be split among the two or more losing candidates. For example, in Maine, nine of the 11 gubernatorial elections between 1994 and 2014 were won with less than 50% of votes.
Ranked choice voting eliminates the need for run-off elections which can be expensive and delay results. Since 2000, more than ten cities have adopted the single winner ranked choice voting method including Berkeley, Oakland, and San Leandro, in California, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, and Portland, Maine. Another five or more cities will join the list as of the current election. RCV has worked very well for cities. It could also work well for states.
Another problem addressed by ranked choice voting is gerrymandering, a process whereby an entrenched minority can redefine congressional voting districts to bias how many representatives will be selected from each party in a state. Some have referred to the process as politicians picking their voters, instead of the other way around. Both Democrat and Republican politicians have used gerrymandering. A ranked choice voting process can ensure the majority of voters will always be able to elect a majority of seats, rather than the entrenched minority ensuring they stay in office.
Another advantage of ranked choice voting is it can discourage negative campaigning. This is not guaranteed, but in traditional voting elections, candidates spend billions of dollars and sometimes benefit from “mudslinging”. With ranked choice voting, candidates do best by connecting with as many voters as possible, including those voters who support an opponent. Rutgers University polled voters in seven cities with ranked choice voting in 2014. They discovered voters reported friendlier campaigns than during elections before ranked choice voting.
The third part of my vision is blockchain mobile voting. I acknowledge using the Internet to vote is much more complicated than e-commerce or e-health. But it can be done: privately, conveniently, securely, and verifiably. I have written extensively about mobile blockchain voting as an improved method of voting. You can find posts in my blog and in my book, Election Attitude – How Internet Voting Leads to a Stronger Democracy.
In this section, I share what I am up to, pictures of the week, what is new in AI and crypto, and more.
Apple Intelligence is gradually rolling out. I think it is going to be great but so far I am not too impressed. They have a long way to go. Siri now looks better and sounds better. Unfortunately, it is still not very intelligent.
I invested in Voatz in 2021 and was a pro bono adviser from time to time in the early days before that. Voatz reflects what I wrote about in Election Attitude – How Internet Voting Leads to a Stronger Democracy.
Voatz has announced the successful completion of historic elections in Mexico. Not only was this arguably the most advanced online election ever conducted anywhere, it also created a unique piece of history with Mexico electing its first woman president. It was also Voatz’s first million-dollar election contract. Voatz now holds the unique distinction of pioneering blockchain-backed digital voting for public elections in all three major countries of North America.
Voatz also announced a new win in the State of Wisconsin with an expected revenue of $250k over 5 years. Nearly 60k new voters will become eligible to use the Voatz system for the first time starting this November.
The US Commercial Service (a part of the Dept. of Commerce) has selected Voatz for the official USA Pavilion at the 2024 Africa Tech Festival. This partnership may help provide a boost to its international expansion efforts and add credibility for larger procurement opportunities.
This week in AI brought several notable developments across various sectors:
1. **Generative AI in Hollywood**: The use of AI for visual effects continues to expand. Notably, the movie *Here* used generative AI to de-age Tom Hanks, demonstrating advances in creating realistic digital likenesses for actors. This trend is controversial in the film industry, with ongoing debates about ethical considerations and potential impacts on actors’ rights and compensation.
2. **AI in Election Information**: During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, multiple AI chatbots, including Google Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot, limited their responses to election-related questions, directing users to official news sources to prevent misinformation. This move reflects a cautious approach by AI companies, emphasizing transparency and responsibility in AI-driven information dissemination.
3. **Advancements in Google Cloud’s Gemini Model**: At the Google Cloud Next conference, Google introduced Gemini 1.5 Pro, an advanced AI model capable of processing large datasets and handling complex, multimodal inputs. This model, now in public preview, is designed to support long-context understanding across audio, text, and video, opening new possibilities for industries such as gaming and finance.
These updates show AI’s growing role in diverse fields—from entertainment and information access to enterprise applications—while highlighting the challenges around ethical use and data accuracy.
This week in crypto, the market saw several significant developments, especially around regulation, prices, and adoption trends:
1. **Bitcoin Price Surge**: Bitcoin reached new highs, approaching $77,000 after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election. This surge was fueled by expectations of potential pro-crypto regulatory reforms under a Trump administration, particularly around the SEC and its approach to cryptocurrency oversight. BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF also saw substantial inflows, exceeding $1 billion in daily trades as investors poured into this newly approved investment vehicle.
2. **Ethereum Momentum**: Ethereum also experienced a price rally, nearing $3,600, with market analysts predicting a “monster rally” as the token continued to attract investment. Positive sentiment around possible regulatory changes in the U.S. further buoyed Ethereum’s prospects.
3. **International Regulatory Moves**: Outside the U.S., Italy’s economy minister is considering revisions to a proposed 42% crypto tax following pushback, and Japan’s Financial Services Agency is working on legislation to secure domestic crypto assets in the event of exchange failures. These moves reflect a broader trend of governments worldwide adjusting their stances on crypto taxation and consumer protection.
4. **Adoption and Payment Innovations**: A global payment provider announced infrastructure to simplify crypto payments, aiming to make them as straightforward as credit card transactions. This step could make crypto more accessible for mainstream consumers, reflecting ongoing efforts to bridge crypto and traditional finance.
These shifts highlight a dynamic week in the crypto world, with political changes, regulatory considerations, and mainstream financial adoption all contributing to ongoing volatility and growth in the market.
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