HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-08: Electoral Integrity in the Digital Context

The integrity of electoral processes in Europe is facing challenges in the digital age. The digital transformation of democratic processes has created new avenues for citizen engagement, but it also poses significant risks from disinformation to the integrity of electoral and other democratic processes. Proposals should examine the effects of digital technologies on public opinion and governance, and investigate the development of ethical AI, transparent political advertising, and tools to counter misinformation, disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). This includes exploring multi-stakeholder approaches, fostering dialogue with online platforms, media and political parties, and examining how AI-generated content influences public opinion, social narratives, and civic engagement. The ultimate goal is to create robust and resilient electoral systems that can meet the challenges of the digital age, ensure the safety and integrity of electoral processes, and promote free, fair, inclusive and transparent elections.

Deadline

23 Sept 2026

Open date

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Funding

€3,500,000 – €4,000,000

TRL

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Eligible entities

university, research_org, company, ngo, consortium

Eligible countries

EU

Topics

FIMI, electoral integrity, disinformation, deepfakes, influence operations