Digital era poses new challenges for free and fair elections – Parliamentary Alliance to debate the way forward

26/09/2025 Election observation

How can democracies ensure free and fair elections when technology is transforming the way votes are cast, counted and observed? This question will take centre stage at the next meeting of the Parliamentary Alliance for Free and Fair Elections, to be held on Wednesday 1 October 2025, from 13:00 to 14:00, at the Palais de l’Europe (Room 6) in Strasbourg.

Under the theme “Conducting and Observing Elections in the Digital Era: Implications and Challenges for the Parliamentary Assembly”, the meeting will examine how technological advances are reshaping democratic processes – and how international institutions must adapt to protect electoral integrity.

Two experts will set the scene:

• Adrià Rodríguez-Pérez, Legal Advisor at the Venice Commission, will present the interpretative declaration of the 2002 Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters, focusing on electoral standards in the age of new technologies.
• Meaghan Fitzgerald, Head of the Election Department at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), will outline how international election observation missions are adapting to respond to technological advances.

Following the presentations, members of the Alliance will discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by digitalisation and consider the implications for the Assembly’s own election observation missions.

This event is open to all members of the Parliamentary Assembly with an interest in electoral matters and offers a valuable opportunity to contribute to shaping the Assembly’s approach to elections in a rapidly changing technological environment.

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