Blockchain may soon be part of New York’s strategy to secure the democratic process.

That's the hope of Clyde Vanel (D-33), who filed Assembly Bill A7716 on Tuesday, proposing that the New York State Board of Elections study how blockchain technology could be used to protect voter records and election results.

The bill, currently in the Assembly Election Law Committee, calls for a comprehensive report within one year, examining blockchain’s potential as a tool for election integrity.

The legislation defines blockchain as a decentralized, cryptographically secured, immutable, and auditable ledger capable of delivering an “uncensored truth.” 

It mandates that the Board of Elections collaborate with the Office of Information Technology Services and engage experts in blockchain, cybersecurity, voter fraud, and election systems. 

The final report must also consider blockchain implementations in other states and jurisdictions.

If the bill advances, it would need to pass through the full Assembly, undergo the same process in the Senate, and then be signed into law by the governor. 

For now, it remains under committee review, pending discussion or amendment. Yet, should the bill be enacted, the state board would be legally obligated to deliver its findings within 12 months.

This is not Vanel’s first push for such legislation. Versions of the bill have appeared in legislative sessions since 2017, though none have made it to the Governor’s desk. 

This year’s version, however, arrives amid growing nationwide interest in exploring blockchain's role in public infrastructure, even as other states pursue very different use cases, such as crypto investment and regulatory reform.

Last month, Utah lawmakers approved HB230, a blockchain-friendly bill that protects crypto activities and infrastructure, but stripped language that would’ve allowed the state to invest in Bitcoin directly.

HB230 prohibits state and local governments from restricting individuals' and businesses' ability to accept digital assets as payment, use self-hosted or hardware wallets, and participate in blockchain activities such as operating nodes, developing software, transferring assets, and staking.

Meanwhile, the Bitcoin investment strategy gained momentum following President Trump’s March executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve at the federal level.

As of now, 47 Bitcoin reserve bills have been introduced in 26 states, with 41 still live, per reserve tracker Bitcoin Law data.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair