Georgia’s largest opposition party, the United National Movement, launched United Space, an identity app powered by Rarimo, ahead of the October 26 parliamentary elections.
According to a report on Alexa Blockchain, the app aims to use the blockchain-powered system to combat low voter turnout in Georgia elections by rewarding citizens for participating regardless of their political views. If elected, the party wants to use the app to ‘digitalize’ the Public Service Hall as a platform to experiment with Universal Basic Income, with the proceeds flowing back to citizens.
Powered by the zero-knowledge social protocol Rarimo, the United Space app aims to implement a liquid democracy model that allows citizens to vote anonymously through the app and be rewarded for their participation.
United Space is actually a modified version of an existing Rarimo ZK proof-of-citizenship solution called Freedom Tool. What sets Freedom Tool apart from other blockchain systems is its ability to allow users to determine their own identity by uploading their national ID data encrypted to an on-chain registry.
The app provides a voting system that is free from concerns about privacy violations and possible voter manipulation, as the blockchain acts as a safeguard against poll manipulation.
The system prohibits third parties, including the government, from tracking user activities in the app. This level of anonymity is crucial given the current political climate in Georgia.
Tensions over this year’s elections have increased as Georgian democracy has reverted toward authoritarianism and found itself back within Russia’s sphere of influence.
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When it comes to solving low voter turnout in Georgia, citizens can receive rewards not only for casting their votes, but also for other forms of civic engagement. On the United Space website, it offers a program called “Points and Ownership,” where citizens can collect points and become shareholders of strategic points.
MP and leader of the United National Movement, Giorgi Vashadze, foresees a broad transformation of the democratic system. Not only for Georgia, but also for the rest of the world.
“United Space will help make Georgia one of the most robust democracies in the world. It will provide unprecedented privacy, access and convenience for citizens as they engage with both the electoral system and day-to-day state services,” said Vashadze.
Director at Rarilabs, Kitty Horlick, said the app enables citizens to become direct stakeholders, allowing them to get involved in the democratic process, state assets and public services.
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