This Virginia Lawmaker Argues Blockchain Can Boost Local Elections, Economy

A Virginia lawmaker is pushing her state’s authorities to review how blockchain might form the way forward for native elections and commerce. 

On Jan. 8, Delegate Hala Ayala (D-51) supplied two payments to the Home of Delegates: the primary calling for Virginia’s Division of Elections to analyze blockchain as a way to safe elections, and the second requesting that the Virginia Financial Improvement Partnership (VEDP) analysis blockchain’s present and coming position within the state economic system. 

Collectively, they comprise Ayala’s political drive to embrace – or not less than contemplate – integrating distributed ledger expertise in Virginian life. 

They’re additionally a product of Ayala’s material experience. She was an info safety specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard for almost 20 years earlier than transitioning to a cybersecurity position on the Transportation Safety Administration in 2017, the place she continues to work.

“Proper now blockchain is a thriving expertise,” mentioned Ayala, who was appointed chair of the newly-formed Know-how and Innovation Subcommittee final week.

The payments define Ayala’s proposed roadmap to finding out blockchain applied sciences. That is most clear in her election invoice. It is a response to the continuing menace of election interference by “unhealthy actors,” she mentioned.

But it surely’s additionally an in depth prescription to get forward of future assaults. With textual content imploring the Division of Elections to review present blockchain voting mechanisms, carry out a cost-benefit evaluation after which decide “whether or not and find out how to implement blockchain” in elections, the invoice affords a path to attainable implementation. 

“We’ve got to take blockchain very significantly and perceive it has the mechanics and mechanisms that might probably present us with safer election safety,” Ayala mentioned.

The economic system invoice, too, would nudge blockchain towards extra widespread implementation in Virginia, with two years of mandated research on the tech’s prevalence and position in intrastate commerce. 

If handed, VEDP would produce a number of reviews outlining what the federal government ought to do to foster sector progress. Ayala mentioned it could additionally tamp down on company overreach – holding corporations sincere.  

Whereas Ayala hopes the reviews will make clear how the state can benefit from this comparatively new expertise, she has not but dedicated to implementing blockchain instruments.

“We have to do our homework first to see how we are able to apply these applied sciences to their companies in addition to our elections,” she mentioned.

Finally, her economics invoice seeks to create “a statewide, complete, and coordinated technique regarding blockchain expertise,” the textual content reads. 

“Know-how is at all times ever evolving, and we wish to ensure that we’re on the forefront and main the best way right here within the commonwealth,” Ayala mentioned.