Blockchain Platform to Score Politicians, Increasing Accountability and Voter Engagement
June 15 2018 - 10:45AM
ADVFN Crypto NewsWire
An upcoming
blockchain platform says it is determined to bring greater levels
of transparency and accountability to the world of politics –
creating a system where lawmakers and their policies are given
scores by the electorate.
According to NextElection,
many democracies around the world struggle to effectively
scrutinize elected representatives during their time in office, and
it can be difficult for voters to get their voices heard when an
unsavory policy has the potential to have a detrimental effect on
their lives. This can leave many people disillusioned with politics
altogether – and in some cases, politicians embroiled in major
scandals survive unscathed. Without accountability, the project
says democracies run the risk of becoming autocracies, and
eventually turning into dictatorships.
Its platform aims to
inject trust back into political discourse, while also helping
voters cut out the noise and focus on information that really
matters. A user who is concerned about a particular issue – such as
immigration, gun control, air pollution or taxation – will be able
to access a “continuous stream of content and updates” focused on
that topic alone. They will also be able to receive feeds devoted
to individual elected politicians and appointed officials, as well
as election developments in single
constituencies.
As an example, a feed
about a politician would include a biography, a sentiment meter
which shows how other voters perceive their performance and voting
record, and links to other lawmakers they may be associated with.
For floating voters who are unsure about who to support, such
information could prove vital when they are deciding how to cast
their ballot.
“A rich visualization of
issues”
NextElection says issues will be regarded as “building
blocks” on its platform – enabling users to raise their concerns,
and cast votes on the problems that matter most to them. Issues which affect the greatest number of people
would gain higher levels of prominence.
A user’s worries can also
vary depending on whether they are thinking about the city or
province where they live or the country as a whole, and this is why
the platform’s dashboard can be altered based on geography. Thanks
to this, a citizen can discuss an issue affecting their local area
– such as access to clean drinking water – while also having their
say on nationally decided matters such as taxation, welfare, and
employment.
The blockchain platform hopes that politicians will
begin to use its technology to perform “real-time performance
appraisals” – helping governments to understand which issues are
regarded as urgent by the people they serve. NextElection envisages
becoming a vital part of the political world where the careers of
lawmakers can hinge upon the rating they have on its platform, with
political parties losing support and even elections if they fail to
take heed of what the public is telling them.
To help users make an
informed decision at the ballot box, NextElection also plans to
offer historical analysis featuring data about a politician or a
party’s record on a particular issue – with timelines that show how
their scorecard has evolved. It is hoped that this will help voters
think in greater detail about long-term performance rather than
attractive policies which are unveiled during a campaign to garner
last-minute support.
“NextElection can create
change”
NextElection – which is
based in India, the UK and the US – wants politics to make a
difference all the time, and not just during
elections.
The platform intends to
launch in June. Screenshots of its product, including mockups of
how it will look, have already been uploaded to its
website.
Over time, it is also
hoped that its technology will have a positive impact on
journalism, helping news outlets to devote greater attention to
issues which matter most to the people.
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