11. Nimit Sawhney: Identity Authentication and Voting Access

Nimit Sawhney is the co-founder and CEO of Voatz, a platform built on the idea that voting should be easy, secure, and accessible for everyone. Voatz is looking to revolutionize the way the world votes. The app gives users access to a voting system that is completely functional on tablets and smartphones by combining elements of remote identity proofing, biometrics, and blockchain technology. End-to-end verifiable and accessible remote voting is now an option thanks to this technology. Nimit's areas of expertise span mobile software development, cryptocurrency development, cybersecurity, and public policy. He co-founded Voatz in 2015 and the platform has since been used to run over 117 elections at the state, county, university, and organizational levels, serving over 2.2M voters.  Voting on the blockchain offers an alternative to  many of the shortfalls of traditional voting systems, including lack of security systems, which can result in electoral fraud. Nimit Sawhney proposes blockchain voting as a necessary next step in electoral processes globally, to ensure secure and transparent elections..  In this episode, Dside and Nimit discuss voter access, identity proofing, the security of blockchain voting, and the possibility of its global adoption in the near future.    ***Timestamps*** 1:50 -  What is Voatz? and, why the world needs it  9:04 - Challenges facing blockchain voting technology 12:03 - How on-chain voting outclasses traditional voting systems 16:50 - Adoption of Voatz in the US, Canada and everywhere else! 23:10 - Nimit's background in public policy and how it applies to Voatz 26:40 - Identity proofing, KYC and and cybersecurity measures on Voatz 33:15 - The user voting experience on Voatz 38:25 - Voatz on mobile phones, tablets and the web! 39:40 - How grad school influenced the person Nimit is today 42:30 - A typical day in the life of Nimit Sawhney 44:20 - Looking to the future: What's next for Voatz? ***Additional Resources*** Voatz If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow! Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.   ***Links*** Early Podcast Twitter Bankless Consulting LinkedIn Bankless Consulting Newsletter Link to Guest's Linkedin Link to Guest's Twitter