In the Voatz app, authentication is a three-step process that uses the smartphone’s camera and biometric features (fingerprint recognition or facial recognition):
- The voter scans their state driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
- The voter takes a live snapshot of their face (a video “selfie”).
- The voter touches the fingerprint reader or uses the facial recognition feature on their smartphone, which links the device to the voter.
The app first does a liveness check on the ‘selfie’, then compares the voter’s “selfie” to the photo on their passport or driver’s license, and finally, compares the ID data to the state’s voter registration database to confirm that the voter is eligible to vote. As soon as the voter is authenticated, all personally identifiable information is deleted.
The entire process takes roughly five minutes and once a voter has successfully completed authentication, they will not be required to do it again unless they change their address or get a new ID.
This process is essential because it verifies that the voter is who they say they are, that their jurisdiction confirms they are eligible to vote, and that their identity is tied to the smartphone being used, guaranteeing one voter per device, and one device only.