SafeBallot Founders Seek to Change Democracy, One Vote at a Time

​​SafeBallot began as an idea for the Fowler Business Concept Challenge at the University of San Diego (USD) — an idea Elijah ’26 and Donatella Johnson ’25 (BBA) believed could transform the way people participate in democracy.

Months later, during what was supposed to be simply a weekend outing to watch San Diego Fútbol Club (SDFC) play at Snapdragon Stadium, an unexpected opportunity arose.

As the couple exited the stadium, they crossed paths with the club’s chief operating officer. Within minutes, they were pitching SafeBallot, their blockchain-based voting platform. It was serendipity.

The Johnsons knew that this was a chance to test their secure digital voting engine in a real-world setting.

SDFC agreed to pilot SafeBallot’s voting platform to select the Man of the Match, using fan input. Initial tests brought lessons that strengthened SafeBallot’s voting system, and proved what the Johnsons had known all along – their idea was ready to transcend into the San Diego community and beyond.

This pending partnership became SafeBallot’s first major pilot and a defining moment for the Johnsons.

“Outside of being a voting engine, we see SafeBallot as a movement in democracy,” said Elijah, a senior and student athlete. 

Recently, the Johnsons traveled to Washington D.C. to walk through the halls of Congress and meet with Rep. Latifah Simon (CA) and Rep. Young Kim (CA) to discuss voting accessibility and trust in elections. Upon their return to San Diego, they received an official endorsement from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones after a live demonstration at a city event that featured SafeBallot’s technology.

For Donatella, who immigrated to the United States from Eswatini and co-founded SafeBallot with her husband, connecting with national and local politicians to help strengthen democratic participation has personal meaning.

“Growing up in one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, I never experienced democracy the way it functions here. So being part of strengthening a system I was not raised in, and one that once felt foreign to me, is deeply inspiring,” she said. “As an immigrant, contributing to something so foundational to this country feels meaningful and full circle.”

For Elijah, who has always embraced entrepreneurship and risk-taking, building SafeBallot reflects a lifelong drive to create meaningful change. 

“My vision for SafeBallot is to become the digital backbone of elections nationally and globally — where every vote is protected at the highest level of security, every voice is counted with certainty, and trust in democracy is not debated, but guaranteed.”

Together, they founded SafeBallot to make democracy more accessible, transparent and secure for everyone. The company is also finding other ways to use their business for good.

“We want people to know that we’re so much more than a digital voting platform,” said Donatella. “As young entrepreneurs, we want to put our business out there in unique ways.”

Those unique ways include giving back to the local community. SafeBallot adopted a segment of highway on Interstate 5 near SeaWorld Drive. Each month, the team comes together to pick up trash, keeping the community clean. SafeBallot also sponsored a team for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Los Angeles, calling on USD basketball players to participate. 

Although SafeBallot’s sponsored team didn’t end up winning the tournament, Elijah’s second company, Physiq, did. The Johnsons donated the proceeds to local non-profit, Streets of Hope, which does outreach with San Diego’s unhoused community. More recently, they launched the SafeBallot Youth Leadership Grant, awarding $1,500 to Encanto Elementary School to empower the future of San Diego.

“We want to encourage and inspire the next generation of leaders and help them recognize that their voice does matter,” said Elijah. “As our company grows, we continue to realize that our work is bigger than putting a vote in a poll box. It’s about shaping democracy for future generations.”

Last summer, SafeBallot represented USD at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Finals in Minneapolis, Minnesota, competing against teams from across the United States, Europe and Africa.

“Being on that global stage and sharing our passion with other young students who are doing the same was a great experience,” said Donatella.

The USD network continues fueling SafeBallot’s growth. The team’s lead software developer, Gedeon Baende ’24 (BS/BA), was a former classmate of Elijah’s.

“I’m sure when they took that class they had no idea they would become business partners a year later,” reflected Donatella.

They also emphasized the support they’ve received from their growing team, Cordano Russell and Thomas Salazar ’26, who have been instrumental in building the company from the ground up.

The Johnsons acknowledge that building SafeBallot has demanded more than technical expertise and networking – it’s required faith.

“Starting SafeBallot has been one of the biggest chapters in our life,” said Donatella. “We’re constantly asking ourselves, ‘Where are we going to get this money to support this idea?’ or ‘How are we going to get a meeting with these people?’ We have to trust God that He will provide.”

As SafeBallot continues to grow, the Johnsons remain focused on the fact that their company represents something larger than voting technology. Democracy, they insist, shouldn’t be controversial or intimidating.

“It shouldn’t be scary to make your voice heard,” said Elijah. “We want to flip the narrative that exists out there … this is a privilege, and we were  born with it as a right.”

– Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)