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Hundreds of protesters with signs and flags in front of a capital building.

Election Watch for the Digital Age

Tracking the intersection of elections, internet platforms, and human rights around the world.

Election Vulnerability Index

Countries are ranked according to a selection of key election-related indicators, where 0 is the worst and 100 is the best. Learn more about the project.

Election Watch vulnerability index

 

Election Vulnerability Index indicators are scored on a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 is worst (dark red) and 4 is best (light grey). Download the data.

Election Risk Indicators key, from 0 to 4
Digital Sphere Ecuador El Salvador Uganda
Vulnerability to internet disruptions 3 4 4
Blocking of platforms and websites 3 4 3
Online content removal 2 2 2
Disinformation and state control of online information 2 2 3
Laws criminalizing protected online activities 2 4 2
Prosecutions for protected online activities 2 4 2
Extralegal punishment for protected online activities 2 2 2
Cyberattacks against civic actors 1 2 3
Electoral System and Political Participation Ecuador El Salvador Uganda
Quality of most recent executive elections 3 4 1
Quality of most recent legislative elections 3 3 1
Quality of electoral laws and framework 2 4 1
Operating environment for political parties 3 4 1
Freedom and strength of political opposition 3 4 1
Freedom from undue pressure on political choice 3 2 1
Political equality and participation 3 3 2
Government transparency and accountability 2 3 1
Human Rights Ecuador El Salvador Uganda
Media freedom 2 2 1
Free expression for private citizens 3 3 2
Freedom of assembly 2 3 1
Freedom for NGOs 3 3 1
Judicial independence 2 2 1
Due process 2 2 1
Physical security 2 1 1
Equal treatment and antidiscrimination 2 2 1
Freedom from forced ethnic change 4 4 4

Elections by Country

  • Burkina Faso

    On Burkina Faso

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

    See More

    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      56 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      November 22, 2020
    • Type of Election

      General
    • Internet Penetration

      17.50%
    • Population

      20.3 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom in the World 2020
    • Last Update

  • Côte d'Ivoire

    On Côte d'Ivoire

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      51 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      October 31, 2020
    • Type of Election

      Presidential
    • Internet Penetration

      44.89%
    • Population

      25.5 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom in the World 2020
    • Last Update

  • Ecuador

    On Ecuador

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      65 100 partly free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      57 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      February 7, 2021
    • Type of Election

      General
    • Internet Penetration

      68.14%
    • Population

      17.3 million
    • Last Update

  • El Salvador

    On El Salvador

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      66 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      February 28, 2021
    • Type of Election

      Legislative
    • Internet Penetration

      46.41%
    • Population

      6.5 million
    • Last Update

  • Georgia

    On Georgia

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      61 100 partly free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      76 100 free
    • Date of Election

      October 31, 2020
    • Type of Election

      Parliamentary
    • Internet Penetration

      63.81%
    • Population

      4.0 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom on the Net 2020
    • Freedom in the World 2020
    October 14, 2020
    New Report

    Georgia’s net score did not change in the new edition of Freedom on the Net, but the report documented increases in the number of cyberattacks and in domestic content manipulation. Read the Georgia report.

    • Last Update

  • Jordan

    On Jordan

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      37 100 partly free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      49 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      November 10, 2020
    • Type of Election

      Parliamentary
    • Internet Penetration

      76.90%
    • Population

      10.4 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom on the Net 2020
    • Freedom in the World 2020
    October 14, 2020
    New Report

    Freedom House released the new edition of Freedom on the Net, which found that internet freedom in Jordan improved slightly. Read the Jordan report.

    • Last Update

  • Moldova

    On Moldova

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      60 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      November 1, 2020
    • Type of Election

      Presidential
    • Internet Penetration

      73.56%
    • Population

      3.5 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom in the World 2020
    • Last Update

  • Myanmar

    On Myanmar

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

    See More

    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      30 100 not free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      31 100 not free
    • Date of Election

      November 8, 2020
    • Type of Election

      General
    • Internet Penetration

      34.84%
    • Population

      54.0 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom on the Net 2020
    • Freedom in the World 2020
    September 29, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Burmese election officials said the vote would go ahead as scheduled, following a request from the USDP to postpone it due a spike in COVID-19 cases. The rise in cases draws attention to the logistical challenges the pandemic poses for sound election administration. Read more.

    September 29, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Two political parties accused the UEC of censoring their campaign speeches before being broadcast on state TV and radio. The UEC allegedly removed politically sensitive topics related to ethnicity, socioeconomic issues, and government policy. Read more.

    October 9, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The government deemed journalism a “nonessential business,” meaning journalists are subject to COVID-19 movement restrictions in many parts of the country, including Yangon. This restriction potentially limits journalists’ ability to report on developments during the electoral period. Read more.

    October 14, 2020
    New Report

    Freedom House released the new edition of Freedom on the Net, which found that internet freedom in Myanmar declined dramatically as the government ramped up censorship ahead of the elections. Read the Myanmar report.

    November 4, 2020
    Incident Alert

    A study released by Burma Human Rights Network reported 39 cases of hate speech and disinformation, some of which were shared over 2,000 times on various social media platforms, ahead of the elections. Anti-Muslim hate speech and disinformation featured prominently in these posts. Read more.

    October 28, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Myanmar’s government allegedly issued a directive to extend the mobile internet service restrictions in Rakhine and Chin states until the end of the year. The restriction was originally set to end on October 31st. Read more.

    October 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The Union Election Commission removed the Union Democratic Party from the list of registered political parties due to alleged violation of party registration laws, preventing any of the party’s candidates from contesting the election. Read more.

    • Last Update

  • Uganda

    On Uganda

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

    See More

    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      34 100 not free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      56 100 partly free
    • Date of Election

      January 14, 2021
    • Type of Election

      General
    • Internet Penetration

      32.85%
    • Population

      44.3 million
    September 29, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The UCC is moving forward with enforcing a regulation that requires “online data communication and broadcasting services” to register with commission. A UCC spokesperson said sites that fail to meet the October 5 registration deadline will be blocked. Read more.

    October 14, 2020
    New Report

    Freedom House released the new edition of Freedom on the Net, which found that President Museveni’s government continues to tighten its grasp on internet users in Uganda through financial and regulatory constraints, as well as by prosecuting voices of dissent. Read the Uganda report.

    November 19, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Opposition candidate Muhammed Ssegirinya was arrested while livestreaming outside of the police station where Bobi Wine was detained, and was charged with “inciting violence.” Ssegirinya’s lawyer said that the charges are for filming evidence of police violence during Bobi Wine’s arrest.” Read more.

    November 20, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Four presidential candidates suspended their campaigns in protest of the arrest of two other candidates, Bobi Wine and Patrick Amuriat. Read more.

    November 20, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Anonymous reportedly hacked the Uganda Police Force website and took it offline in response to the violent police crackdown on protesters. Read more.

    November 20, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Numerous false and misleading claims about opposition candidate Bobi Wine have circulated on social media, including posts claiming that he has died, that President Barack Obama and President-elect Joe Biden have demanded his release, and that President Donald Trump has endorsed his candidacy.

    December 1, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Bobi Wine indefinitely suspended his presidential campaign after an attack on his car. The decision follows a recent increase in repression and violence against his supporters. Read more.

    December 2, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Bobi Wine resumed his presidential campaign after suspending it in protest of violent repression of his supporters. Read more.

    December 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The Media Council of Uganda revoked the accreditation of all foreign journalists, requiring them to re-register within seven days. Source.

    December 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The Financial Intelligence Authority ordered a freeze on the bank accounts of multiple non-governmental organizations involved in good governance work over alleged terrorist financing. Sources report the move may be politically motivated. Source.

    December 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The Facebook page for Ghetto TV, a pro-Bobi Wine online channel known for live-streaming his campaign activities, was reportedly hacked and deleted. The account was previously hacked in August. Source.

    December 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Google rejected a request from the Uganda Communications Commission to remove over a dozen YouTube channels whose content is seen as sympathetic to opposition candidate Bobi Wine. Source.

    December 28, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The Media Council of Uganda announced that local and foreign journalists must reapply for accreditation in order to cover the elections. Failure to register by the December 30 deadline could result in criminal charges. Source.

    January 1, 2021
    Incident Alert

    Opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine was arrested for allegedly violating a coronavirus campaign ban. However, the restrictions did not apply to the location where Wine was campaigning, suggesting that the arrest was politically motivated. Source.

    January 8, 2021
    Incident Alert

    BBS TV journalist, Culton Scovia Nakamya, was arrested on December 30th alongside Bobi Wine and his campaign team. Nakamya later confirmed that police said she incited violence by posting updates about Bobi Wine’s arrest on social media. Source.

    January 8, 2021
    Incident Alert

    On December 26, 2020, the Electoral Commission issued a statement prohibiting campaigning in Kampala and numerous other districts and cities due to rising COVID-19 infection rates. Analysts and opposition parties argue that the ban is intended to obstruct the opposition.

    January 11, 2021
    Incident Alert

    Presidential candidate Patrick Amuriat was arrested and detained on alleged traffic charges. The Daily Monitor reports that it was his ninth arrest since the Forum for Democratic Change nominated him as their candidate. Source.

    January 11, 2021
    Incident Alert

    Facebook removed a network of inauthentic accounts that was manipulating online discourse ahead of the election. The network was linked to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, and several government officials’ accounts were removed, as were those of other progovernment figures. Source.

    January 12, 2021
    Incident Alert

    The UCC ordered ISPs to block social media and messaging apps “until further notice.” Civil society organizations confirmed that restrictions on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and other platforms have been enacted. Source.

    January 13, 2021
    Incident Alert

    Internet connectivity was disrupted nationwide as of 7 p.m. on the night before the election. Source.

    • Last Update

  • United States

    On United States

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

    See More

    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      86 100 free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      76 100 free
    • Date of Election

      November 3, 2020
    • Type of Election

      General
    • Internet Penetration

      91.13%
    • Population

      329.2 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom on the Net 2020
    • Freedom in the World 2020
    October 8, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Facebook announced new measures, including a ban on political and issue-based advertising after voting ends on November 3, in an attempt to address false and manipulative narratives that may arise in the post-election period. Read more.

    October 8, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Facebook expanded its efforts to limit QAnon on its platforms. QAnon has spread on Facebook despite an earlier ban on QAnon groups that called for violence. Read more.

    October 8, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The FBI disrupted a plot by a militia to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the government. According to the affidavit, the FBI initially became aware of the plot when individuals were discussing it in a social media group earlier in the year. Read more.

    October 9, 2020
    Incident Alert

    In an effort to address misinformation ahead of the election, Twitter announced that it would adjust certain features on the platform, including the retweet option and what tweets appear on users’ timelines. Read more.

    October 14, 2020
    New Report

    Freedom House released the new edition of Freedom on the Net. Although the online environment in the United States remains largely free from state censorship, the US declined for the fourth straight year in our report. Read the United States report.

    • Last Update

  • Venezuela

    On Venezuela

    See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

    See More

    Country Facts

    • Global Freedom Score

      16 100 not free
    • Internet Freedom Score

      28 100 not free
    • Date of Election

      December 6, 2020
    • Type of Election

      Parliamentary
    • Internet Penetration

      66%
    • Population

      28.5 million

    In Other Reports

    • Freedom on the Net 2020
    • Freedom in the World 2020
    October 14, 2020
    New Report

    In the new edition of Freedom on the Net, internet freedom in Venezuela suffered as internet connectivity was frequently disrupted, service providers blocked key sources of independent news and information, and independent online journalists increasingly self-censored. Read the Venezuela report.

    October 16, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Government-owned ISP CANTV blocked 30 websites between October 11 and October 16, including media outlets, sites containing information on COVID-19 offered by the interim government, opposition websites, and streaming platforms. Read more.

    October 27, 2020
    Incident Alert

    The National Electoral Council published new campaign regulations less than a week before the official start of the campaign period. Last minute changes to campaign rules often create confusion and can place opposition candidates at a disadvantage. Read the regulations.

    November 8, 2020
    Incident Alert

    A sustained homophobic smear campaign against Roland Carreño, a journalist and the coordinator of Voluntad Popular, continued when pictures of him that were obtained without his consent were posted on Twitter. Read more.

    November 12, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Opposition leaders, human rights activists and relevant opposition digital influencers reposted a video taken in 2016, portraying it as having been taken in 2020. The video is of a meeting where attendees are instructed to vote alongside staff who will ensure they vote in the favor of the governing party. Read more.

    December 4, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Interim president Juan Guaidó and other opposition leaders will boycott the election on the basis that it will not be a free and fair contest. The opposition instead plans to hold its own referendum on Nicolás Maduro’s rule. Read more.

    December 7, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in Venezuela’s election, which had low turnout and was boycotted by the opposition after a preelection period marred by political interference. Read more.

    December 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    A fact-checking group found that some hashtags used during the election period, especially those promoted by the Ministry of Communication and Information, came from accounts with high rates of inauthentic behavior - sometimes as high as 79%. Read their thread.

    December 17, 2020
    Incident Alert

    On election day, some voters reportedly found polling places to be closed or delayed in opening without warning. Unforeseen changes to voting centers’ schedules and functioning can directly disenfranchise voters.

    December 28, 2020
    Incident Alert

    Election results were announced in a non-transparent way that at times appear inconsistent with the electoral framework. For example, National Assembly candidate Luis Parra won a seat that he was not nominated for, but later claimed he had changed races without notifying the public. Source.

    • Last Update

About Election Watch for the Digital Age

Election Watch for the Digital Age is a new research initiative investigating the interplay between digital platforms and election integrity — and confirming that the internet can be used to disrupt democracies as surely as it can destabilize dictatorships.

  • About Election Watch for the Digital Age
  • Acknowledgements
Learn More

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