VTSIOM: Blockchain for more transparency

The Russian opinion research institute VTSIOM wants to integrate blockchain technology into its work in the future. The government-run company wants to take advantage of the technology to evaluate voter opinions more effectively.

A popular advantage of the Blockchain technology is the ability to transfer data efficiently, transparently and securely. In addition to the obvious use of this technology to generate capital, one often loses sight of the fact that the potential application area of block chain technology is quite wide. The technology is sometimes used to control the flow of goods, count elections or evaluate opinions. The Russian government and the company VTSIOM now want to take advantage of the latter.

In the course of the forthcoming elections in the world's largest country in terms of surface area, the Russian Times reports that it wants to count voter surveys with the help of the blockchain. Above all, the aim is to ensure transparency and security of surveys:

Our project is to store data on a special block chain bank that we collect in polling stations during polls. In this way, we can assure that they are not manipulated from the outside, protect them against hacker attacks and protect the transparency of data collection,"says a statement from VSITOM.

The Russian company wants to prepare the project in cooperation with 2chain. 2chain is a company that currently concentrates its work on ICOs. Further details are to follow from 12 March on the specially created website. The Russian presidential elections will begin on 18 March. In addition to incumbent Vladimir Putin, eight other candidates are taking part. So far, nothing is known of plans to use the advantages of blockchain technology for counting the ballots themselves.

Russia as a whole progressive in Blockchain issues
Only recently, Russia had announced very similar plans with regard to the electoral mechanism. This was about the right of codetermination for citizens in urban planning. With Active Citizen, citizens should be able to have a say in projects concerning infrastructure and urban planning. Positive voices have also been heard in the Kremlin's past regarding the regulation of trade in cryptocurrencies. The Central Bank therefore advocated allowing mining within the Russian Federation.