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CERV DIGIVOTE

Project No.: 101252326

Project No.: 101252326
Title: Enhancing Trust, Transparency, and Engagement in Digital Voting
Programme: Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV)
Project Duration: January 2026 – January 2028 (24 months)

Project Leader: Ddr. Maja Pucelj
Project Coordinator: EMUNI

Contact us through e-mail: digivote@emuni.si

 

Project Overview

DIGIVOTE is a transnational European project aimed at strengthening democratic participation and public trust in digital electoral processes across the European Union. It is funded under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme of the European Union.

In response to growing interest in e-voting and i-voting solutions, as well as increasing public concerns regarding security, transparency, inclusiveness, and disinformation, the project promotes an evidence-based, participatory, and rights-oriented approach to digital voting.

The project actively engages citizens, electoral experts, policymakers, digital rights advocates, and civil society actors in structured dialogue and deliberative processes on the future of digital democracy. Through comparative research, citizen consultations, digital literacy initiatives, and policy-oriented outputs, DIGIVOTE contributes to the development of secure, transparent, accessible, and inclusive digital voting systems that reinforce democratic trust at both national and EU levels.

 

Project Objectives

Project aims to empower citizens and institutions to co-shape the future of e-democracy in Europe by improving trust, transparency, and participation in digital voting processes.

The project pursues five primary objectives:

  • Analyse and compare existing legal and policy frameworks for digital voting in selected EU Member States and at EU level, identifying gaps, risks and good practices.
  • Engage citizens and stakeholders in structured discussions, citizens’ assemblies and youth debates on the opportunities and risks of digital voting, and ways to increase transparency, security and inclusion.
  • Develop evidence-based policy recommendations and a transnational roadmap for secure, transparent and accessible digital voting, grounded in citizen input and interdisciplinary expertise.
  • Strengthen digital literacy, critical thinking and resilience against disinformation related to elections and digital democracy.
  • Mainstream gender equality and non-discrimination in all activities, with special attention to women, older adults, rural communities, people with disabilities and migrants.

Action Lines and Methodology

DIGIVOTE objectives are implemented through four integrated and mutually reinforcing action lines:

  • Comparative Research & Analysis – Systematic review of legal, technical and societal dimensions of digital voting across partner countries, mapping existing frameworks and identifying best practices.
  • Citizen Consultations & Deliberative Tools – National and transnational events including citizens’ assemblies, thematic debates with diverse communities (youth, older adults, persons with disabilities), and stakeholder roundtables engaging election authorities and civic tech experts.
  • Digital Literacy & Disinformation Resilience – Targeted activities addressing misinformation around digital voting, building critical thinking skills and promoting media literacy among citizens.
  • Strategic Policy Road mapping – Development of a transnational blueprint—”Best Practices for Secure Digital Voting Implementation in the EU”—based on scenario planning, public input, and expert consultation, culminating in a final policy event disseminating recommendations to EU and national decision-makers.

 

Project Activities and Work Packages

DIGIVOTE is structured around 15 interlinked work packages (WPs) that combine research, citizen participation, capacity building, and policy development at national and EU levels. Gender equality, inclusion, and youth engagement are integrated throughout all activities.

WP1 – DIGIVOTE Launch Conference
Kick-off event in Slovenia bringing together policymakers, experts, and voting authorities to present the current state of digital and traditional voting and build trust among partners.

WP2 – Voting Reimagined: Future of Voting & Survey Results
Explores the future of digital voting, especially accessibility and inclusion, supported by an EU-wide citizen survey providing key insights for the project.

WP3–WP9 – Voting in Partner Countries
National-level citizen discussions and stakeholder dialogues in Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Germany, and Poland, producing comparable reports to inform the transnational policy synthesis.

WP10 – Plug In and Speak Up: Youth Digital Voting Debate
Engages young adults (18–30) in interactive debates on participation, trust, and digital democracy.

WP11 – Scientific and Professional Conference on Digital Voting
Brings together researchers, legal and electoral experts, and policymakers to discuss findings and emerging trends in digital voting.

WP12 – DIGIVOTE Interactive: Fight Disinformation and Misinformation
Strengthens citizens’ resilience to electoral disinformation through interactive tools, workshops, and campaigns.

WP13 – Co-Creating the Vote: Citizens in the Policy Lab
Participatory policy labs enable citizens and stakeholders to co-create actionable recommendations for inclusive and transparent digital voting.

WP14 – Transnational Policy Roadmap and Roundtable
Synthesizes national findings into a transnational blueprint, with a multi-stakeholder roundtable to ensure EU-level impact.

WP15 – Final Policy Event and Dissemination of Recommendations
Concludes the project with a high-level policy event and dissemination of the roadmap and recommendations to EU institutions, national authorities, and the public.

 

Expected Impact

The project will empower citizens to actively shape the future of e-democracy in Europe, bridge the gap between citizens and policymakers, and foster transnational exchange and solidarity. By uniting universities, civil society, human rights organisations and policy actors in collaborative activities, DIGIVOTE supports co-creation and knowledge transfer, contributing to a more inclusive, transparent and resilient democratic ecosystem fit for the digital age.

 

Project Consortium

The DIGIVOTE consortium brings together academic, civil society, and human rights expertise from across Europe:

  • EMUNI University (Slovenia) – Project Coordinator
  • FECE (Bulgaria)
  • Estonian Human Rights Centre (Estonia)
  • Odyssea (Greece)
  • PRO RIGHTS (Italy)
  • Culture Goes Europe (Germany)
  • Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland)