The improvements matter alot. If for example ethereum developers refuse to accept an improvement for ethereum blockchain (for right or wrong reasons) you could simply fork Ethereum and make the changes yourself.. If the improvements actually solved the problem safely the forked blockchain could eventually overtake Ethereum in terms of price, value and transaction volume.
As regards election on blockchain, I have no doubt in my mind that it can be done. But hypocrites and crooks will never let that be . They could end up creating their own form of blockchain when put under pressure - sort of a private blockchain and the elites/governments alone would control the nodes
It will actually not going to work as I am sure, there will be a big entity that will going to handle the biggest hashrate on that blockchain, as a result, there will still be a manipulation of the votes that will going to be conducted. So, what if we attached the system to those who already established ones? It might be better.