The DIGIVOTE project is entering a new phase. After several months of national-level discussions across Europe on the opportunities and challenges of digital voting, the series of national events is now approaching its conclusion.
These national events have been at the heart of the first participatory phase of DIGIVOTE, bringing together citizens, experts, policymakers, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the digitalisation of elections. Across the participating countries, discussions have addressed questions of security, transparency, accessibility, public trust and democratic participation, while also exploring citizens’ expectations regarding electronic and internet voting. National events have already taken place in Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovenia, Greece, Germany and Poland. The final national event will take place in Italy on 24 September 2026, organised by project partner PRO RIGHTS, completing this phase of country-level discussions.
As the national dialogue phase draws to a close, DIGIVOTE will move towards a more targeted discussion with one of the groups most closely connected to the future of digital democracy: young people. The next major project activity will be “Plug In and Speak Up: Youth Digital Voting Debate”, an online event planned for 13 October 2026 at 10:00 and led by project partner FECE.
The event will bring together young participants from across the partner countries for an interactive discussion on digital voting, democratic participation and trust in digital electoral processes. Participants will work in smaller breakout groups on different scenarios and topics before returning to the plenary session to present their ideas and proposed solutions. While young people will constitute the primary target group, the discussion may also involve experts, NGO representatives, academics and other civil-society actors, creating an inclusive space for discussing how voting and democratic participation should evolve in the digital age.
This will be followed by the Scientific and Professional Conference on Digital Voting, organised by Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (NCU Toruń) and taking place in Toruń on 14 January 2027.
The international conference will bring together academics, professionals, practitioners and experts to exchange knowledge and examine key issues surrounding digital voting. The programme is expected to include a keynote session and several thematic panels addressing topics such as cybersecurity and digital voting, technical and legal aspects of e-voting, citizens’ perceptions of e-voting, and the future of digital voting. An online poster session for young researchers and students is also planned, creating further opportunities for academic and professional exchange.
The conference will provide an important opportunity to connect the experiences and perspectives gathered during DIGIVOTE’s citizen-oriented activities with scientific, legal, technological and policy expertise.
Together, these activities mark an important transition for DIGIVOTE: from national conversations about citizens’ expectations, to focused youth engagement, and ultimately to international scientific and professional exchange. The insights gathered throughout these stages will contribute to the project’s broader ambition of developing evidence-based approaches and recommendations for digital voting systems that are secure, transparent, inclusive and worthy of public trust.
DIGIVOTE – Enhancing Trust, Transparency, and Engagement in Digital Voting is a 24-month European project coordinated by EMUNI University and funded under the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme. The project brings together partners from across Europe to explore how digitalisation can support democratic participation while safeguarding electoral integrity, inclusion and fundamental rights.
