Around the world we have major problems with the integrity of democratic elections, almost always because those in power are maybe being dishonest or illegal in how the election is run, and how votes are counted.

While there are numerous efforts made, and international oversight, and so on, perhaps this is a new idea that is a partial remedy, yet still helpful.

Very generally, people in a local community trust each other more than they trust strangers and governments, even if the individuals disagree on politics.

At the community level we can create trust that the electoral votes in that community are counted correctly. Full transparency of the people and processes at the local level. Scrutiny available to anyone (to a degree anyway).

Then, when votes are tallied up regionally or nationally, the totals for each community is detailed. Each community can then be assured that their votes were recorded correctly, and have the ability to order a recount if they disagree.

If every community accepts that their count is correct, then the total count and election results become indisputable.

Obviously this takes a lot of organising, and will involve thousands of communities – I suggest a maximum size of 10,000 people. So, 100 communities per million.

The communities should decide what their community consists of, and (with NGO guidance) how to verify things. At no stage are individual votes ever known, at issue, or used in decision-making around the integrity.