Jusletter IT

Legal Challenges for the Use of Blockchain-Based E-Voting Systems in Germany

  • Authors: Tobias Schulz / Burkhard Schafer
  • Category: Articles
  • Region: Scotland, Germany
  • Field of law: Advanced Legal Informatics Systems and Applications
  • Collection: Peer Reviewed – Jury LexisNexis Best Paper Award of IRIS2017, Conference Proceedings IRIS 2017
  • Citation: Tobias Schulz / Burkhard Schafer, Legal Challenges for the Use of Blockchain-Based E-Voting Systems in Germany, in: Jusletter IT 23 February 2017
The authors demonstrate that the use of blockchain-based e-voting systems is generally consistent with German law, particularly with art. 38 of the Grundgesetz. This, however, requires the implementation of effective measure to ensure the publicity and the secrecy of the election and, hereby, meet the legal requirements for e-voting systems developed by the constitutional court of Germany in its judgment from 2009. An amendment of section 35 paragraph 1 of the Bundeswahlgesetz could contribute to more legal clarity when the use of mobile devices is intended.

Table of contents

  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Technological background of the blockchain technology
  • 2.1. Blockchain
  • 2.2. Use of blockchain in e-voting systems
  • 2.3. Conclusion
  • 3. Legal framework for «digital» elections in Germany
  • 3.1. Art. 38 Grundgesetz
  • 3.2. Judgement of the constitutional court
  • 3.3. Bundeswahlgesetz
  • 3.4. Discussion
  • 4. Compatability of blockchain-based e-voting systems with the German law
  • 4.1. Publicity of the election
  • 4.2. Secrecy of the election
  • 4.3. Further general security considerations
  • 4.4. Compatability with section 35 Bundeswahlgesetz
  • 4.5. Conclusion
  • 5. Summary and outlook

No comments

There are no comments yet

Ihr Kommentar zu diesem Beitrag

AbonnentInnen dieser Zeitschrift können sich an der Diskussion beteiligen. Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Kommentare verfassen zu können.