Podcast Summary: Future Hindsight

Episode: Voting Booth in Your Pocket: Bradley Tusk
Date: March 20, 2025
Host: Mila Atmos
Guest: Bradley Tusk (Founder & CEO, Tusk Holdings; Co-founder, Mobile Voting Movement)

Overview

This episode explores the promise, challenges, and practicalities of mobile voting as a means to increase voter turnout and strengthen democracy. Host Mila Atmos speaks with Bradley Tusk—a political strategist, investor, and author—about why mobile voting could be transformational, how it actually works, and what it could mean for local, state, and eventually national elections. The conversation delves deeply into turnout, technology, entrenched power, system vulnerabilities, and actionable ways to fight for more inclusive democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Low Voter Turnout Is So Damaging

• Political Inputs Drive Outcomes:
  • Tusk emphasizes that every policy is a result of political inputs—primarily, who votes. Politicians overwhelmingly make decisions to maximize reelection chances, generally appealing to the small subset that votes in low-turnout primaries.
  • Quote: "Every politician makes every decision solely based on the next election and nothing else." — Bradley Tusk [02:40]
• Who Actually Votes?:
  • Low-turnout primaries (often 10-15%, and as low as 7% in NYC Council races) are dominated by extremes on either side, allowing special interests to exert disproportionate influence, resulting in gridlock or lopsided governments.
  • Real-world example: The failed Amazon HQ2 deal in NYC, where politicians prioritized their reelection chances over job creation, due to anticipated primary challenges from the left.
  • Quote: "He ultimately was faced with a very simple choice. 40,000 new jobs for New Yorkers or one his own. And he picked himself. And the problem is he's not the exception. He's the rule." — Bradley Tusk [04:43]

The Case for Mobile Voting

• Meeting Voters Where They Are:
  • Tusk draws parallels to his successful campaign for Uber, where direct digital engagement moved public opinion and pressured politicians. If people could vote as simply as advocating in an app, turnout could drastically rise.
  • Quote: "If people were willing to advocate on their phones, would they vote that way?" — Bradley Tusk [07:44]
• Pilot Programs and Turnout Improvements:
  • Mobile voting pilots for disabled voters and deployed military doubled or tripled turnout compared to traditional methods, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
  • Quote: "What we found is… when you reduce friction and make things easier… more people do it." — Bradley Tusk [08:16]
  • In Washington State's conservation district, turnout tripled once mobile voting was introduced. [18:16]

How Mobile Voting Works

• Authentication and Security:

  • Voters download the official Board of Elections app, verify voter registration, and confirm identity through multi-factor authentication and facial recognition.
  • Voters with valid IDs (driver’s license, state ID, or passport) can use the system; existing voting methods remain for others.
  • After selections are made, the digital ballot is encrypted, and voters receive a FedEx-style tracking code.
  • Ballot is air-gapped (taken offline for security), decrypted, and a paper copy is printed for audit trails—building redundancy and transparency.
  • The software is open source for anyone to audit.
  • Quote: "What we really built was the digital version of a mail in ballot." — Bradley Tusk [13:21]

• Ballot Verification Process:

  • Voters can double-check their vote. If the digital envelope is opened for verification, that particular ballot is spoiled, but a new, re-encrypted ballot can then be submitted.
  • Quote: "If you choose to do that, you go to the ballot check website... you review that what you selected was correct." — Bradley Tusk [14:17]

Addressing Security and Hacking Concerns

• Why This System Is More Secure:
  • System offers end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, air-gapping, and open-source transparency — surpassing security of current in-person and mail voting.
  • Start implementation at the municipal level, where high-value targets for foreign interference are minimal.
  • Quote: "I would argue is exponentially more secure than the status quo. It is end-to-end, encrypted. It's end-to-end, verifiable." — Bradley Tusk [15:18]
• Auditability:
  • Both digital and printed records enable recounts and audits, with open code allowing independent review.
  • Quote: "The code itself is open source... you can check the two against each other and know... if it recorded 843 votes on paper for Mila and 843 votes in the system for Mila, we know that it's right." — Bradley Tusk [35:34]

Overcoming Entrenched Interests

• Why the System Resists Change:
  • Both right- and left-wing special interests (e.g., teacher’s unions, NRA) depend on small electorates for outsize influence; they will fight to preserve the status quo.
  • Quote: "If turnout goes up to 36% now, they only have a sixth of the voter share. So... they become exponentially less powerful." — Bradley Tusk [24:19]
• Historical Perspective & Path Forward:
  • All major rights were won despite fierce opposition. Sustained public demand creates change.
  • Quote: "If enough people stand up loud enough and long enough, they always win." — Bradley Tusk [30:31]

Next Steps and the Road to Implementation

• Legislative Strategy:
  • Focus is on passing city council bills (less costly than ballot initiatives) and mounting comprehensive campaigns with grassroots, media, and political pressure.
  • Targeted audiences: military families, disabled voters, younger legislators, civil rights advocates.
  • Success depends on organizing, public support, and education rather than just tech development.
  • Quote: "We are going to run... aggressive, multifaceted, sophisticated campaigns... That's what we're gonna use too. That's what I know how to do." — Bradley Tusk [32:31]

The Civic Spark: What You Can Do

• Actionable Steps for Listeners:
  • Sign up at mobilevoting.org to get involved, especially if you’re in a target city/state.
  • Help with grassroots organizing; mobilize friends and family.
• Quote: "If you go to mobilevoting.org, you can sign up to get involved and it'll be super easy and clear how to do it." — Bradley Tusk [37:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the difference higher turnout makes:
  "Just by definition, if you believe that the mainstream view reflects a centrist, moderate position, if 35% of people voting or 50% of people are voting, that is more reflective of the mainstream view than 10 or 15%." — Bradley Tusk [26:03]

• On generational promise:
  "They are able to look at issues in a much different, more pragmatic way, and they don’t really care which party." — Bradley Tusk [39:06]

• On the inevitability of technological progress:
  "Technology always wins at the end of the day… it’s just a question of like, well, I’m 51 right now. Will I be 59 or will I be 77?" — Bradley Tusk [37:38]

Important Timestamps

• Setting up the challenge of voter turnout: [02:19–06:04]
• Case studies and pilots for mobile voting: [08:03–09:37], [18:11–19:34]
• Detailed description of mobile voting technology: [09:43–13:47]
• Addressing security and hacking concerns: [15:04–16:52], [35:23–36:17]
• Entrenched power and special interests: [22:09–25:56]
• Impact of increased turnout on democracy: [26:03–29:33]
• Cynicism, obstacles, and the way forward: [29:33–33:12]
• Legislative/Advocacy strategy for rolling out mobile voting: [33:12–36:23]
• Civic Spark—how listeners can get involved: [37:05–37:31]
• Why young people give hope for pragmatic, issue-based politics: [37:35–40:04]

Final Thoughts & Tone

Bradley Tusk’s tone is direct, pragmatic, and optimistic—even as he acknowledges entrenched opposition to change. The episode balances critique of current dysfunction with concrete solutions, demystifying how mobile voting works while making a passionate, math-driven case for why turnout is the key variable in how democracy works—or doesn’t. Both host and guest remain focused on practical steps: listeners are encouraged to get involved, stay hopeful, and help push mobile voting from pilot to widespread reality.

To get involved or learn more, visit mobilevoting.org.