11. Nimit Sawhney: Identity Authentication and Voting Access

Nimit Sawhney is the co-founder and CEO of Voatz, a platform built on the idea that voting should be easy, secure, and accessible for everyone. Voatz is looking to revolutionize the way the world votes. The app gives users access to a voting system that is completely functional on tablets and smartphones by combining elements of remote identity proofing, biometrics, and blockchain technology. End-to-end verifiable and accessible remote voting is now an option thanks to this technology.

Nimit's areas of expertise span mobile software development, cryptocurrency development, cybersecurity, and public policy. He co-founded Voatz in 2015 and the platform has since been used to run over 117 elections at the state, county, university, and organizational levels, serving over 2.2M voters. 

Voting on the blockchain offers an alternative to  many of the shortfalls of traditional voting systems, including lack of security systems, which can result in electoral fraud. Nimit Sawhney proposes blockchain voting as a necessary next step in electoral processes globally, to ensure secure and transparent elections.. 

In this episode, Dside and Nimit discuss voter access, identity proofing, the security of blockchain voting, and the possibility of its global adoption in the near future. 

 

***Timestamps***

• 1:50 -  What is Voatz? and, why the world needs it 

• 9:04 - Challenges facing blockchain voting technology

• 12:03 - How on-chain voting outclasses traditional voting systems

• 16:50 - Adoption of Voatz in the US, Canada and everywhere else!

• 23:10 - Nimit's background in public policy and how it applies to Voatz

• 26:40 - Identity proofing, KYC and and cybersecurity measures on Voatz

• 33:15 - The user voting experience on Voatz

• 38:25 - Voatz on mobile phones, tablets and the web!

• 39:40 - How grad school influenced the person Nimit is today

• 42:30 - A typical day in the life of Nimit Sawhney

• 44:20 - Looking to the future: What's next for Voatz?

***Additional Resources***

• Voatz

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