Interview with Brett Morrison, creator of the app that allows people to vote digitally by implementing Bitcoin and Nostr: True Vote. The role of Open Timestamps and the importance of open source for election transparency.
In an era where the integrity of democracies and voting systems are increasingly scrutinized, new solutions are not just a luxury but a necessity. The quest for a transparent, accessible, and secure voting mechanism has been a perennial challenge, often marred by logistical hurdles and public skepticism.
Brett Morrison is an entrepreneur with a vision that could change the way we perceive and participate in elections. His project, True Vote, aims to harness the convenience of smartphones to bring a shift in the voting landscape by integratingBitcoin and Nostr.
You created True Vote, an app that allows people to vote for elections and verify votes using both Bitcoin and Nostr. Before we get into the details: where did the idea come from?
The concept emerged from addressing two primary issues with the current voting system. The first is the inconvenience of voting, and the second is the lack of confirmation that one’s vote has actually been counted. This idea first sparked in 2013-2014 when I was waiting in line to vote. Observing everyone on their phones, I wondered why we weren’t voting using our phones, considering we do almost everything else on them.
That was the seed that eventually led me to develop a solution for voting via smartphones. I was an entrepreneur at the time and I still am, I worked at SpaceX for a short time, I did some contract-work after that, then I decided to focus on launching True Vote to facilitate phone voting and ensure transparent elections. So I started the company and I wrote the white paper, then I published it in 2021. What I recently released is the implementation of the white paper, which is showing the app in action. Nostr came out after the white paper was written, so I added Nostr afterwards.
In light of events like the 2020 U.S. election, having a verifiable voting system seems crucial. Could you explain how True Vote works, particularly its implementation of Nostr and Open Timestamps?
As Bitcoin maximalists, we avoid using other tokens or creating new blockchains; we build on Bitcoin. Initially, I considered using the Lightning Network for True Vote, where each ballot would pay a small fee. However, I discovered Open Timestamps, which offered a way to validate data using Bitcoin without creating a new transaction. In True Vote, when a ballot is submitted, we hash it as a checksum. This checksum is a unique representation of the ballot, ensuring its integrity. What we do is taking all the checksums of all the ballots and then, periodically, for example every 15 minutes, we post an OpenTimestamps transaction against the Bitcoin blockchain.
This process memorializes the hash forever. It basically says: “At this blockheight this hash was valid“, so you can backtrace the ballot and know that the data were not tampered with. Open Timestamps, developed by Bitcoin core developer Peter Todd, anchors this process to Bitcoin, demonstrating its versatility not just as a currency but also as an immutable ledger for other applications. And it’s a way for using the Bitcoin blockchain without polluting it with other things like Ordinals or NFTs.
How does True Vote ensure voter anonymity while linking votes to individuals?
This was a critical point in our white paper. We achieved this by decoupling the ballot ID from the user ID. The connection between a specific ballot and its voter is known only to the voter, secured by their Nostr private key. This ensures that only the private key holder can identify their ballot, maintaining voter anonymity. The app allows users to generate their own key. There’s a feature in the app, as seen in the demonstration video, where users can generate a key with a simple tap.
The app guides the user through the process, ensuring they have securely saved their key before proceeding. This feature is designed to be user-friendly, catering to all users regardless of their technical background. For example, someone like my mother, who may not understand the technicalities of private-public key pairs, can easily generate and save her key within the app. We aimed to make True Vote the most accessible and easy-to-use app for all.
Could you walk me through the user experience of voting within the app?
Sure. To vote in True Vote, users first need to log in. However, they can’t cast a vote without an Election Access Code (EAC), which is issued by the election’s authority – be it a local, state, or national body. It’s important to note that True Vote is not a voter registration service; users still need to register to vote through traditional means. Once they have the EAC, they can submit their ballot through the app. The system publishes the hash of the votes with Open Timestamps every 15 minutes, ensuring transparency and security.
We're excited to share what we've been working on – the TrueVote app in action!
TrueVote is not just an app; it's a commitment to transparency. Built on Bitcoin, Opentimestamps, and Nostr, our open-source platform ensures tamper-proof ballot data.
Are there plans to implement True Vote in real-world elections? Have you formed any partnerships?
Yes, we are in the process of building partnerships to offer True Vote for elections. We have a strategic partner, Global Election Services, which has been in the elections business for 30 years. They manage elections for unions, associations, and some civil municipalities and are eagerly waiting for me to deliver a functional product. We have customers lined up, ready to use our platform as soon as it is fully developed. Currently, we have a working demo available, and we plan to release the first version of the platform early next year.
When do you think True Vote will be used in an actual election?
I believe the first real application of True Vote in an election could be as soon as March 2024. Once we start, we expect to be busy conducting elections frequently, potentially on a weekly basis. Our goal is not limited to the U.S.; we designed True Vote for a global audience. The app supports multiple languages and is intended for international use.
We might see its first use in a national election outside the U.S., possibly in a smaller, more agile country, similar to how El Salvador was the first to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. While the U.S. is a significant target market, we are open to launching in other countries where the adoption might be quicker.
We have already garnered attention from international groups, such as one in South Africa. They’re preparing for a significant election and have expressed interest in True Vote. The goal is for countries other than the U.S. to adopt this technology eagerly.
How crucial is it for an application like True Vote to be open source, especially considering the potential for mistrust in closed-source systems?
It’s absolutely critical. The suspicion towards closed-source election systems, particularly in the U.S., is a significant issue. People distrust these shadowy, ultra-secure companies whose internal workings are unknown. Open source is vital for election software; arguing against it is indefensible. Past attempts to create voting systems have failed because they were closed source and lacked public trust.
Considering your approach, do you worry about competitors copying your business model?
True Vote being open source is a key feature – it’s built for everyone. If others want to replicate it to enhance election transparency and integrity, especially in emerging democracies, I fully support that.
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