Conference Thematic Sections

The conference is organised around the following thematic sections (not limited to):

1. Future of Voting

This section looks ahead to the next generation of electoral processes in a period of profound geopolitical uncertainty. Declining public trust in states and institutions, the war in Ukraine, and the spread of disinformation have exposed the fragility of democratic infrastructures and raised the stakes of electoral digitalisation. Papers are invited that explore how electoral systems can be designed to withstand hybrid threats and foreign interference, rebuild institutional trust, and anticipate the long-term prospects of voting methods – traditional, digital and hybrid. Both cautionary and forward-looking  and comparative perspectives are welcome.

2. Technical and Legal Readiness

This section explores the prerequisites for implementing digital voting systems, covering both technical infrastructure and the legal frameworks required to support digital elections. Topics may include cybersecurity standards, certification processes, regulatory gaps, comparative constitutional perspectives, and compliance with European and international electoral standards.

3. Trust Building and Electoral Integrity

Digital voting can only succeed if voters, electoral authorities, and civil society trust the process. This session addresses the legal, technical, and communicative mechanisms for building and sustaining trust in digital voting systems, including transparency, auditability, independent verification, and the role of electoral management bodies.

4. Inclusive and Accessible Voting

Democratic legitimacy requires that voting systems are accessible to all citizens. This section examines how digital voting can enhance or hinder inclusion for groups such as persons with disabilities, elderly citizens, expatriates, and digitally disadvantaged populations. Papers may address universal design principles, the digital divide, and legal obligations under disability and equality law.

5. Citizens' Perspective on Digital Voting

Drawing on empirical research conducted within the DIGIVOTE project and beyond, this section focuses on public attitudes towards digital voting. Papers are welcome that present survey findings, comparative analyses, or methodological reflections on measuring citizens' trust, awareness, and willingness to use digital voting technologies, as well as national case studies and comparative analyses of e-voting implementation, reform processes, and policy debates.