The Art of the Possible

Written by Eugene Morozov

Edited and adapted for publication by Benjamin Bateman

There is now sufficient evidence that many governments, international and regional organizations, academic institutions, Web3 communities, and a broad range of religious, nonprofit, and private sector institutions are actively working to modernize their governance systems, including how they vote.

The total addressable market (TAM) for indisputable elections is enormous. Yet, adoption of the most advanced technologies available for that purpose continues to lag behind.

There are many contributing factors: a scarcity of proven, reliable solutions; a fear of reputational or technical failure from untested platforms; limited understanding of the risks involved; a shortage of independent experts in these emerging fields; resistance from entrenched legacy systems; lingering effects of high-profile crypto scandals from the ICO era; insufficient real-world success stories; legal uncertainties; and complex or slow-moving vendor approval processes.

Despite all these factors, the potential for emerging technologies, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, zero-knowledge proofs, and formal verification in the voting space remains vast. And with that in mind, current competitors in the remote ballot marking and return space are better described as collaborators.

Adoption benefits everyone in this field, without exception.

And that opens the door to a more unified, cooperative approach.

Collaborating to Accelerate Global Adoption

To support the secure and gradual adoption of indisputable mobile voting, a group of companies working across various segments of the election lifecycle (see Picture 1) has agreed to explore a joint marketing initiative. The purpose of this effort is to offer potential customers:

• a broad range of technologies and service providers,

• clear, accessible information to make informed decisions,

• and flexible options to adopt step-by-step, with minimal disruption to existing processes.

This lifecycle illustration is drawn from the Voting Industry Supplement of the Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM), developed by the Government Blockchain Association (gbaglobal.org).

Reducing Risk While Expanding Access

By working collaboratively, the participating companies aim to remove some of the primary barriers to adoption. This includes helping stakeholders better understand the technologies involved, building confidence through proven strategies, and reducing exposure to costly errors or implementation delays. Whether in public or private sectors, the goal is to give adopters the knowledge and flexibility to establish, or refine, governance structures, technical standards, and compliance procedures in a way that enhances security without overhauling what already works.

Importantly, this approach doesn’t require institutions to leap blindly into a new ecosystem. Instead, it supports incremental change, grounded in expert input and tailored to local needs, regulatory conditions, and operational constraints.

A Modular, Menu-Based Approach

This initiative also supports a modular adoption model. Election authorities and decision-makers can choose from a well-defined menu of technology options and professional services that reflect the latest developments in secure elections. That includes access to experts in cryptographic protection at scale, including quantum-resistant methods, as well as specialists in cybersecurity, digital identity management, formal verification, AI integration, and enterprise-grade blockchain platforms capable of processing millions of transactions per second.

Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all solution, the initiative enables organizations to select components that best meet their needs today, while laying the groundwork for future interoperability and resilience.

Looking Ahead

Modernizing the way the world votes isn’t just about deploying technology; it’s about trust, transparency, and adaptability. By aligning global expertise around a shared vision and providing institutions with real, risk-aware pathways forward, this effort helps ensure that indisputable, mobile-accessible elections aren’t just possible, they’re practical.

The conversations that began with this working group are already evolving into tangible partnerships. The next step is clear: to continue refining the frameworks, sharing implementation insights, and supporting those ready to lead.

To learn more about the GBA's work in this key area, visit: https://gbaglobal.org/wg-resources-voting/

About the Author

Eugene Morozov, CPA, MS, is the founder of DeVOTE and a leading advocate for secure, transparent, and scalable digital governance. With a background in finance, enterprise systems, and emerging technologies, he works at the intersection of policy, cryptography, and civic infrastructure, helping governments and institutions adopt blockchain and zero-knowledge solutions responsibly and effectively.