In an Australian first, the South Australian Government will conduct an official election using a blockchain-based voting system.

UPDATE 9:45pm AEDT:

Micky News has confirmed blockchain company, Horizon State, has been contracted by the South Australia Government to provide the technology and support for the blockchain-based election.

“This is an exciting first government use of our tech in Australia, and a great way to validate the blockchain use for this purpose, Horizon State CEO, Nimo Naamani told Micky.

“This is also a complex vote – being preferential with reserved seats, and a large cohort of candidates to choose from.

“The South Australian government is very forward thinking and we are honoured they chose us to provide the technology. This, to me, shows their commitment to innovation, transparency and responsible use of government funds.”

In the past year Horizon State has made significant inroads into blockchain voting adoption.

The Democratic Party of India announced it will use Horizon State’s blockchain technology to consult Indian citizens before determining its policy positions.

In New Zealand, The Opportunity Party, used Horizon State’s blockchain voting system to conduct a leadership election in December.

EARLIER STORY:

The State Government is using blockchain technology to elect 5 people to the state’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Council.

45 candidates have nominated for the election, with blockchain voting opening today.

“The Marshall Liberal Government has been committed to an open, transparent process in establishing a new representative body for recreational fishers in South Australia,” said Tim Whetstone, the Minister for Primary Industries.

“For the first time in South Australian Government history, the election will be conducted using Blockchain technology.

“Blockchain is an exciting emerging technology which is extremely secure and already used all over the world to perform valuable transactions.”

The blockchain voting technology has been integrated into the state’s online polling website.

South Australia bullish on blockchain

South Australia’s premier, Steven Marshall, says he wants South Australia to be the “blockchain capital of the country”.

“We believe blockchain is going to be important into the future as we manage global supply chains,” Marshall told local publication InDaily.

In October last year Micky revealed South Australia had received Federal Government support for the development of a ‘blockchain hive’, within a massive innovation hub, being built at the site of an old hospital in the state’s capital, Adelaide.

Click here to read Micky’s article about the Adelaide blockchain hive.

In another blockchain move, the South Australian Government is collaborating with the Australian Davos Connection Forum to host an international Blockchain Summit in Adelaide in March, which will explore the potential of blockchain technology.