Digest

This podcast episode begins with an advertisement for NerdWallet, a website that helps users find the best credit cards, savings accounts, and mortgage rates. The episode then introduces the "Explain It To Me" podcast, which focuses on answering listener questions about various topics, including dental procedures. The main topic of the episode is mobile voting, and its potential to increase voter turnout and reduce political polarization. The guest, Bradley Tusk, argues that mobile voting could be a key to saving democracy. He discusses the potential benefits of mobile voting, such as increased accessibility for voters who face barriers to traditional voting methods, and the potential to reduce political polarization by encouraging more moderate voters to participate. Tusk also addresses potential security concerns associated with mobile voting, such as the possibility of hacking, voter fraud, and the potential for voter anonymity to be compromised. However, he argues that these concerns can be addressed through robust security measures, such as end-to-end encryption, biometric authentication, and open-source code. He outlines a specific mobile voting system that uses a secure app to verify voter identity through multi-factor authentication and potentially biometric screening. The ballot is encrypted and sent to the election office, where it is air-gapped and decrypted after the election. A paper copy of each ballot is also printed for redundancy and auditability. The open-source code allows for independent security audits. The episode concludes with an advertisement for Cafe Insider, a membership program that offers exclusive content, including a weekly podcast hosted by former US Attorney Joyce Vance.

Outlines

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Mobile Voting: A Solution to Political Deadlock?

This episode explores the potential of mobile voting to increase voter turnout and reduce political polarization, featuring an interview with Bradley Tusk who argues that mobile voting could be a key to saving democracy.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main arguments in favor of mobile voting?

  Mobile voting is argued to increase voter turnout, particularly among groups who face barriers to traditional voting, such as people with disabilities, students, and those living in remote areas. It is also seen as a way to reduce political polarization by encouraging more moderate voters to participate.

• What are the potential security concerns associated with mobile voting?

  Concerns include the possibility of hacking, voter fraud, and the potential for voter anonymity to be compromised. However, proponents argue that these concerns can be addressed through robust security measures, such as end-to-end encryption, biometric authentication, and open-source code.

• How does the mobile voting system proposed by Bradley Tusk work?

  The system uses a secure app that verifies voter identity through multi-factor authentication and potentially biometric screening. The ballot is encrypted and sent to the election office, where it is air-gapped and decrypted after the election. A paper copy of each ballot is also printed for redundancy and auditability. The open-source code allows for independent security audits.

Show Notes