Swiss Crypto Valley: From June 25 to July 1, Zug residents will have a consultative vote through the eID system that uses the blockchain to test the possibility of voting using this technology.
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Swissinfo informed that about 200 citizens will vote using the uPort mobile application.
The vote will not be binding on the city authorities and more than anything will serve as a survey on topics such as the presence or absence of fireworks at the Festival del Lago, the use of the eID system for lending books from the bookstore or to pay for parking, as well as the possibility of continuing to vote in referendums through blockchain technology.
Zug, the Swiss Crypto Valley
Zug has established itself as crypto-friendly by introducing cryptocurrency payments for some of its services.
Since then, it has also introduced a digital identification system based on blockchain technology and created a decentralised database that allows residents to control their data.
Switzerland is one of the best countries in terms of cryptocurrency regulation and is also one of the places where startups can launch their ICOs.
On 6 June, Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, a private bank, became the first bank in Switzerland to provide business accounts for blockchain and crypto-currency startups.
The Alpine country is very much on the path to blockchain technology and, last year, a consortium of several companies created SwissID, a Swiss digital system.
The system was launched by Swiss Post, the Swiss Federal Railways, a stock market operator and various banks and insurance companies called SwissSignexternal.
It takes caution to vote on the blockchain
In the past, SwissID has been criticized for being delegated to private sector companies rather than being managed by the government itself.
“Proof of digital identity should be a government task, but the government has unfortunately delegated this to the private sector,“ said the Swiss Consumer Protection Association in a statement. “Digital verification of identity by private companies would be inconsistent and subject to market forces.“
Meanwhile, Vitalik Buterin recently tweeted against online voting because of the insecurity regarding privacy and security.
In theory, everything on blockchain could be compromised by the 51% attack.
“Important thread. Online voting requires some very specific privacy and security properties and specific techniques to achieve them, and just shoving stuff onto a public ledger can often even be actively counterproductive.“
The Swiss government has set itself the goal of implementing electronic voting in two-thirds of the country by the end of 2019.
