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Black Lives Matter Protest "Vote" Sign

Election Integrity

Free and fair elections are a foundational component of political freedom. There is more to democracy than free and fair elections, but there can be no democracy without them. Constant vigilance is required to protect this foundational component of political freedom from the threats arrayed against it, which range from old-fashioned fraud on election day to media manipulation and regulatory obstacles during the campaign period. 

There is more to democracy than free and fair elections, but there can be no democracy without them. Constant vigilance is required to protect this foundational component of political freedom from the threats arrayed against it, which range from old-fashioned fraud on election day to media manipulation and regulatory obstacles during the campaign period. Freedom House works with local groups to promote voter participation, particularly by youth, and to monitor elections.

Freedom House - Election Watch for the Digital Age

NEW: Election Watch for the Digital Age

Freedom House is piloting a new research initiative to investigate the interplay between digital platforms and election integrity. Election Watch for the Digital Age equips technology companies, civil society organizations, and policymakers with a data-driven resource for evaluating the human rights impact of internet platforms on a country’s electoral process. 

Learn More
Shortly before the decisive vote on the reform of copyright in the EU Parliament, thousands in Europe protested against the project. Opponents of the reform and especially of the controversial Article 13 had announced demonstrations in about 20 countries.  Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. 23 March 2019. Editorial Credit: Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Digital Election Interference

Shaping the flow of information on the internet is now an essential strategy of those seeking to disrupt the democratic transfer of power through elections. Major authoritarian powers like Russia and China have been implicated in cyberattacks and information warfare linked to elections in democratic states. To learn more, read the Freedom on the Net 2019 essay on Digital Election Interference. 

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News & Perspectives:

Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius

Freedom House Awards Palmer Prize to Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius

Press release

April 1, 2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russia: Freedom House Condemns Arrest of Opposition Figures

Press release

March 13, 2021

Myanmar military personnel

Myanmar: Coup Leaders Must Release Detainees and Restore Civilian Rule

Press release

February 2, 2021

presidential trump pardons

United States: President Trump Must Leave Office Immediately

Press release

January 7, 2021

Capitol Hill insurrection protest demonstrators violence

United States: Freedom House Condemns Political Violence in Washington

Press release

January 6, 2021

Donald Trump and Joe Biden

United States: Freedom House Calls on Lawmakers to Accept the Presidential Election Result

Press release

January 4, 2021

Freedom House in the Media:

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International Observers, Election Experts Are Worried About US Democracy opens in new tab

November 16, 2020

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Fighting Election Results, Trump Employs a New Weapon: The Government opens in new tab

November 16, 2020

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What the Trump administration has said about disputed foreign elections opens in new tab

November 3, 2020

Featured Experts

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Adrian Shahbaz

Director, Technology and Democracy

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Isabel Linzer

Research Analyst, Technology and Democracy

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Sarah Repucci

Vice President of Research & Analysis

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If you would like to interview a Freedom House expert on this topic, please email [email protected].

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