Implement Shielded Voting in DAO [DRAFT]

by 0x247e0896706bb09245549e476257a0a1129db418 (LordLike)

Linked Pre-Proposal

Would our Decentraland DAO like to add Shielded Voting to help solve voter apathy?

Summary

This proposal introduces shielded voting within DAO to enhance voter privacy, ensure fairness, and boost participation in governance. By encrypting vote choices during the voting period, it aims to eliminate undue influence and manipulation.

Abstract

The current voting system in Decentraland DAO publicly displays voters' choices, which can sway decisions and reduce participation due to external pressures, biases, and potential manipulations. This proposal advocates for implementing shielded voting, which maintains confidentiality of votes until the voting period concludes.

Motivation

Decentraland DAO currently operates a transparent voting system where all votes are visible throughout the voting period. This transparency can lead to unwanted voting behaviors and biases, where voters might be swayed by the visible choices of others, particularly influential community members.

Specification

• All voter choices for Decentraland DAO proposals will remain encrypted throughout the voting period. The preliminary results of voting options will not be visible or accessible until the voting period concludes. This encryption safeguards the confidentiality of individual preferences and the overall voting outcomes until the proposal ends.

• Shielded voting will be activated within the Decentraland DAO’s main Snapshot space. This will ensure that all future proposals utilize this voting method.

• Necessary updates will be made to the Decentraland DAO governance Dapp to support shielded voting functionality. This includes UI adjustments to reflect the encrypted voting process and to provide a user-friendly experience for voters.

• Governance documentation will be revised to include details on the new shielded voting.

Conclusion

Implementing shielded voting will potentially increase voter turnout and ensure that decisions are made based on unbiased, individual judgments. By encrypting both the voter choices and the current voting results, this system stops any unfair influence during voting, making the process more honest and truly reflecting what voters want.

This is a non-binding Draft proposal. If approved, feedback and insights will be solicited to refine and finalize the points, including the need for a test period and other considerations, for the final governance stage.

This proposal is summarized due to technical limitations. To view it complete and vote on it, visit the DCL DAO Governance dApp