Data and Elections

Democratic society is under threat from a range of players exploiting our data in ways which are often hidden and unaccountable.

Personal data plays a fundamental role in this emerging way of influencing democratic processes. Through the amassing and processing of vast amounts of data, individuals are profiled based on their stated or inferred political views, preferences, and characteristics. These profiles are then used to target individuals with news, disinformation, political messages, and many other forms of content aimed at influencing and potentially manipulating their views.

Featured Content

Long Read

Protecting personal data during elections – the Council of Europe's new guidelines on the processing of personal data for the purposes of voter registration and authentication

in June 2024 the Council of Europe adopted its Guidelines on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data for the purposes of voter registration and authentication. PI welcomes these very comprehensive Guidelines which complement a previous set of recommendations outlining the safeguards for the Processing of Personal Data by and for Political Campaigns.

News & Analysis

Sign saying "Polling station" with green-blue gradient over the top

Our new tech explainer on election technologies in Kenya

We’ve published a new tech explainer on election technologies in Kenya. The explainer takes a deep dive into the technologies employed to manage and administer the election process in Kenya, such as biometric voter registration (BVR), voter identification, results transmission, and candidate

Advocacy

Elections Technology - Our Recommendations #1: General Recommendations, BVR, EVID and Results Transmission

When it comes to elections around the world, we find ourselves in a terrain that is more and more populated by digital technologies, which have an increasingly critical impact upon the realisation of democracy. Digital technologies used in the context of elections offer new opportunities to support

Advocacy

Cover image of the report, servers with cables

Technology, Data and Elections: An Updated Checklist on the Election Cycle

Our updated data and elections checklist aims to give electoral observers and civil society the necessary tools to understand and assess the role of technologies in the electoral process.