TED Radio Hour Move fast...and fix democracy?
10 snips
Oct 31, 2025 
Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist and founder of the Mobile Voting Project, discusses how mobile voting could increase voter participation by offering convenience and security. He reveals the technical aspects of the app, including encryption and multi-factor authentication. Jennifer Pahlka, a government reform expert, shares her experiences with modernizing public services and emphasizes the need for a product-driven approach. Together, they explore overcoming resistance to change in government systems and the potential for technology to restore faith in democracy.
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Local Pilot Shows Mobile Voting Works
- Charleston County switched from emailed scanned ballots to secure mobile voting for overseas military voters and disabled residents.
- The new system kept ballots anonymous and increased overseas ballot return from ~10% to 55%, simplifying tabulation for election staff.
Phones Can Be A Secure Voting Channel
- Bradley Tusk argues mobile voting on phones can expand turnout by offering an additional, secure option without replacing existing methods.
- He envisions encrypted, anonymized ballots that are air-gapped and printed for physical tabulation with open-source code for public auditing.
Raise Turnout To Change Incentives
- Increase turnout to shift political incentives toward the middle and force politicians to compromise.
- Provide easier voting options, like mobile voting, so more moderate and occasional voters participate.
