Policy Proposal for Secure and Transparent U.S. Federal Elections Using Internal Passports
Objective: To implement a secure, transparent, and fraud-resistant election system for federal elections in the U.S., incorporating internal passports, decentralized oversight, and stringent anti-fraud measures.
- Introduction of Internal Passports for Voting
Purpose: Create a standardized internal passport to serve as a secure form of voter identification for federal elections.
Features:
Embedded with biometric data (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition) to prevent identity theft.
Unique voter ID number linked to federal and state voter rolls.
Offline and online verification capabilities to function in areas with limited internet access.
Distribution: Issued by a non-partisan federal agency with oversight from multiple independent bodies.
- Separate Ballots for Federal and State Elections
Dual Balloting System:
Federal and state elections conducted on separate ballots to minimize overlap in administration and oversight.
Ensures that federal election standards and laws supersede state laws for federal elections, reducing state-level manipulation.
Distinct Counting Protocols:
Votes for federal elections are counted under the jurisdiction of a centralized, non-partisan federal election body, while state ballots remain under state control.
- Decentralized Oversight and Safeguarding Against Collusion
To address potential fraud, we propose a randomized, rotating oversight system modeled after jury duty, where individuals are randomly selected from a pool of eligible, non-partisan citizens, independent experts, and audit professionals. This ensures diverse and unpredictable oversight, minimizing the opportunity for collusion.
- Randomized Selection of Oversight Bodies
Citizen Oversight Panels:
Jury Duty-Like Selection: Citizens are randomly selected from a pool of registered voters to participate in oversight tasks for federal elections. The pool is created from eligible, non-partisan citizens who pass basic eligibility and background checks.
Rotation of Participants: No individual or group should oversee the process for more than one election cycle to reduce the risk of entrenched influence. Panel members serve for a fixed period (e.g., one election cycle) and are then rotated out.
Diverse Panels: Selection ensures that panels are representative of the broader electorate and drawn from different demographic backgrounds to prevent any group from dominating the process.
Expert Panels for Technical Oversight:
Expert Pools: A separate pool of election technology experts, statisticians, and cybersecurity professionals is randomly selected to verify the integrity of voting systems, databases, and data transmission methods.
Rotating Experts: Like citizen panels, expert panelists are rotated after each election cycle, ensuring that no group of experts can gain undue influence over a prolonged period.
Clear Guidelines and Accountability
Strict Rules for Participation: All selected individuals must adhere to stringent ethical standards and sign non-disclosure agreements to protect the integrity of the process. If any panel member is found to be acting in bad faith or engaging in collusion, they are immediately removed and legally penalized.
Auditing of Oversight Bodies: The selection process for panels is also subject to audits to prevent manipulation or bias in the selection. This includes random audits of the selection process itself to ensure it’s conducted fairly.
Transparency and Monitoring
Public Access to Oversight Activities: To further reduce the possibility of fraud or manipulation, the activities of these oversight panels will be documented and made publicly accessible, with real-time reporting and open-source tracking systems.
External Monitoring: In addition to the randomly selected panels, external independent bodies (such as international organizations and civic watchdogs) will monitor the entire process to ensure that it is fair, transparent, and free from tampering.
- Securing Voter Rolls
Federal Voter Roll System:
A centralized federal database managed by the IEC, separate from state-managed rolls but updated in collaboration with state authorities.
Real-Time Verification and Purging:
Use of secure algorithms to cross-check voter eligibility (e.g., citizenship, residency) and flag duplicates or deceased voters for review.
Regular, transparent audits of voter rolls to remove outdated or incorrect entries.
Public Review Period:
Periodic public reviews where voters can confirm their registration details and report discrepancies.
Data Security:
Blockchain-based ledger for voter roll entries to ensure that any changes are immutable and traceable.
- Fraud Safeguards and Security Measures
Biometric Verification:
Internal passports with biometric verification eliminate impersonation or the use of fraudulent IDs.
Decentralized Vote Counting:
Votes counted in multiple independent centers across the country, with results cross-verified by different auditing teams.
Encryption and Security Protocols:
End-to-end encryption of all electronic voting data. No single point of entry to prevent large-scale tampering.
Air-gapped, tamper-proof servers for storage and tabulation to prevent hacking.
Physical and Cybersecurity Measures:
Security clearances for individuals handling federal election equipment or data.
Real-time monitoring by cybersecurity experts and AI systems for any anomalies or suspicious activities.
- Addressing Collusion and Oversight Trust Issues
Balanced Commission Membership:
IEC membership chosen through randomized selection from a pool of vetted, non-affiliated experts, minimizing risk of coordinated bias.
Whistleblower Protections:
Strong, anonymous reporting channels for individuals to report fraud or collusion within oversight groups.
Legal protections and incentives for whistleblowers to encourage accountability.
Third-Party Observers:
Inclusion of international and national non-partisan observers who monitor and validate the election process.
Citizen Oversight Panels:
Independent panels made up of citizens randomly chosen from voter rolls to observe and raise any irregularities during counting and auditing.
- Transparency and Public Confidence
Live Reporting and Open-Source Tracking:
Live video feeds of counting centers and audit processes, accessible online.
Public Voting Ledger:
Blockchain-based public ledger that allows citizens to verify their vote without disclosing their identity.
Comprehensive Audit Reports:
Post-election audit reports made accessible to the public, detailing the audit process and findings.
Educational Campaigns:
Nationwide efforts to educate the public about the new system, how to use internal passports, and the benefits of decentralized oversight.
Conclusion
This policy proposal aims to establish a transparent, secure, and resilient election system for federal elections in the U.S. by implementing internal passports, separate federal and state election processes, decentralized oversight, and advanced anti-fraud measures. By emphasizing transparency, technology, and independent oversight, the system seeks to enhance voter confidence and minimize risks of fraud and collusion.