Accessibility
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2025

Mobile Voting Pilot for Military and Overseas Citizens

Safe, Secure, Mobile Voting Application

For the 2019 municipal election, the City and County of Denver launched a voluntary pilot program to provide military and overseas voters (UOCAVA voters) with a more secure and convenient way to cast their ballots. Eligible voters were able to access, mark, and return their ballots directly from their smartphones using a blockchain-based mobile voting application. As Special Programs Administrator, I managed ballot operations for 5,000+ UOCAVA voters, working closely with leadership and partners throughout every stage of the project. Facing logistical and security challenges with existing electronic return options, Denver Elections partnered with Voatz, Tusk Philanthropies, and the National Cybersecurity Center to implement and audit the pilot.

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The Problem

Military and overseas voters face unique challenges in accessing and returning their ballots, often dealing with poor mail delivery, lack of printing and scanning capabilities, and outdated electronic return methods.

Pain Points

  • UOCAVA voters were required to print, sign, and scan an affidavit to return a ballot electronically, creating barriers for those without printers or scanners.
  • Existing electronic return methods relied on unsecure email attachments, offering no assurance that ballots were received as marked.
  • Denver lacked access to the secure file transfer system used by the Colorado Secretary of State, leaving email as the only option for electronic ballot return.

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The Solution

Denver Elections piloted a blockchain-based mobile voting app to improve both security and accessibility for UOCAVA voters. The solution eliminated the need for external technology like printers or scanners, instead allowing voters to receive, mark, sign, and submit their ballots directly from a mobile device.

My Role:

  • Contributing to the development, user testing, and implementation of the mobile voting platform.
  • Ensuring compliance with election laws and security protocols.
  • Troubleshooting technical and accessibility challenges with voters in real-time.
  • Facilitating collaboration between Denver Elections, Voatz, Tusk Philanthropies, and the National Cybersecurity Center to align project goals and execution.

Implementation & Key Features:

  • Identity Verification & Authentication:
    • Voters used facial recognition and device security features (fingerprint or facial ID) to verify their identity before voting.
    • Government-issued ID and a live selfie were matched to the voter registration record.
  • Ballot Marking & Submission:
    • Voters accessed and marked their ballots directly within the mobile app.
    • They digitally signed the required affidavit using the phone’s touchscreen.
    • The final ballot was encrypted and stored on a blockchain ledger, ensuring it was tamper-proof and independently verifiable.
  • Auditable & Transparent Results:
    • A third-party audit tool enabled independent election observers to verify that votes were recorded and counted accurately while maintaining voter privacy.
    • Eighteen independent auditors participated, confirming 100% accuracy of the cast vote record.

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Outcomes/Results

Record UOCAVA Turnout:

  • Turnout among UOCAVA voters more than doubled compared to the previous municipal election.

Voter Satisfaction & Accessibility Gains:

  • Surveys showed unanimous voter preference for mobile voting over traditional methods.

National Recognition & Future Potential:

  • The pilot received the Democracy Award from the National Association of Election Officials.
  • Demonstrated the potential for expanding mobile voting to voters with disabilities and increasing election transparency.

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Key Learnings

This pilot demonstrated that secure and convenient mobile voting is not only possible but highly effective in increasing participation. It showed the potential of blockchain technology to enhance election security while maintaining transparency. The project also highlighted the importance of collaboration between election administrators, technology experts, and independent auditors to ensure voter confidence in the process.

By leveraging emerging technologies, election administrators can develop accessible, secure, and auditable voting methods that meet the needs of modern voters while safeguarding democracy.

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