Loss of right to free elections

Mitigation strategy

1. **Establish a Robust, Continuous Counter-Disinformation and Media Literacy Program** Mandate a multi-stakeholder strategy involving government, civil society organizations, and technology platforms for continuous monitoring, pre-bunking, and debunking of election-related misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, particularly deepfakes and AI-driven content. Proactively communicate assessed threats and election integrity measures to the public to ensure reliable information and sustain voter confidence. 2. **Implement a Comprehensive and Tested Electoral Risk Management (ERM) Framework** Apply a standardized, cycle-based ERM methodology—incorporating qualitative and quantitative risk analyses—to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across the electoral process. This must include: conducting regular tabletop and functional exercises to test incident response and continuity plans for cyberattacks, physical disruptions, and civil unrest; and integrating advanced, AI-powered security solutions to protect critical election infrastructure assets (e.g., voter registration databases, vote tabulation systems). 3. **Strengthen Independent Oversight, Accountability, and Civil Society Capabilities** Legislate clear frameworks for the transparency and accountability of election officials and technology providers, ensuring independent oversight bodies (such as election commissions and information commissioners) are adequately resourced. Furthermore, empower civil society organizations, journalists, and auditors by providing them with resources and access to report violations and monitor the integrity of the electoral process, thereby safeguarding the right to a secret and free ballot.