Call for Applications on Electoral Integrity in the Digital Context

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

The European Commission is funding projects that strengthen electoral integrity in the digital age. The call addresses the risks and opportunities created by digital technologies, especially AI, in political campaigns, election administration, and public discourse.

The programme supports research that can inform policy, regulation, and technical safeguards for more inclusive, fair, and secure elections across Europe.

Key facts

• Programme: Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action.

• Total budget: €12 million.

• Typical project funding: €3.5 million to €4 million.

• Geographic scope: Europe, with eligibility for legal entities worldwide under Horizon Europe rules.

• Main focus: Electoral integrity, digital resilience, AI transparency, cybersecurity, and misinformation.

• Submission note: Applicants must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code before grant agreement preparation; a validated PIC is not required at submission stage.

What the call is about

This call responds to the growing impact of digital technologies on elections. It aims to help policymakers and election authorities understand how AI, platform systems, and online information flows affect electoral integrity, democratic trust, and voter access.

The Commission wants evidence-based research that leads to practical tools, standards, and regulatory guidance. Projects should go beyond description and help create solutions that can be used in real election contexts.

Core priorities

Electoral integrity and inclusion

Projects should improve the integrity, fairness, transparency, accessibility, and security of electoral systems. This includes making elections more resilient for all voters, including underrepresented and vulnerable groups.

Responsible AI in elections

The call emphasizes transparency and accountability in AI-driven political communication. Projects may examine:

• Disclosure of AI use.

• Transparency of algorithms.

• Disclosure of data sources.

• Auditability of AI systems.

• Risks of automated political persuasion.

Misinformation and foreign interference

A major priority is countering misinformation, disinformation, and foreign information manipulation and interference. Projects may study how false or manipulative content spreads and how election systems can respond.

Cybersecurity and verification

The call also supports research on:

• Cyberattack resilience.

• Voter verification.

• Secure electoral systems.

• Advanced cryptography.

• Post-quantum approaches.

Democratic trust and societal impacts

The Commission wants evidence on how AI-generated content affects:

• Public discourse.

• Civic engagement.

• Gender equality.

• Democratic trust.

• Voter confidence.

What the programme encourages

Projects are expected to take an interdisciplinary approach that combines:

• Social sciences and humanities.

• Artificial intelligence.

• Cybersecurity.

• Data science.

• Policy analysis.

• Election governance expertise.

The call also encourages engagement with a broad set of stakeholders, including:

• Electoral authorities.

• Policymakers.

• Civil society organisations.

• Media institutions.

• Digital platforms.

• International bodies.

Relevant EU frameworks

Proposals should align with current EU rules and strategies, including:

• The AI Act.

• The Digital Services Act election guidelines.

• The Political Advertising Regulation.

• Commission recommendations on inclusive and resilient elections.

• Existing codes of conduct on disinformation.

This makes the call especially relevant for projects that can translate research into regulatory or operational guidance.

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants include any legal entity, regardless of country of establishment. This includes:

• Universities.

• Research institutes.

• NGOs.

• Civil society organisations.

• Technology firms.

• International organisations.

• Organisations from non-associated third countries.

Applicants must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code before grant agreement preparation.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should clearly show:

• A specific electoral integrity problem.

• A strong interdisciplinary research design.

• Clear policy relevance.

• A plan to address AI, misinformation, or cybersecurity risks.

• Stakeholder involvement from election authorities and other key actors.

• A path to practical tools, standards, or recommendations.

• Measurable outcomes for democratic resilience.

How it works

1. Identify the election integrity problem.
   Define the issue the project will address, such as AI transparency, disinformation, or cyber resilience.

2. Build an interdisciplinary consortium.
   Include social scientists, technologists, policy experts, and election stakeholders.

3. Align with EU policy frameworks.
   Show how the project supports current regulations and election guidance.

4. Design the research and pilot activities.
   Plan evidence collection, analysis, and any tools, standards, or prototypes.

5. Engage stakeholders.
   Work with electoral authorities, platforms, media, and civil society.

6. Prepare for impact.
   Show how the findings will improve election integrity and policy decisions.

Why it matters

Elections are increasingly shaped by digital platforms, AI-generated content, and cross-border information flows. This creates new risks for manipulation, confusion, and unequal access to reliable information.

This call matters because it aims to protect democracy while allowing digital innovation to be used responsibly. The strongest projects will help election systems become more transparent, secure, and trusted.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Focusing only on technology without electoral or democratic context.

  • Tip: Keep the project grounded in election integrity and governance.

• Mistake: Ignoring misinformation and foreign interference.

  • Tip: Address these risks explicitly in the research design.

• Mistake: Leaving out legal and policy frameworks.

  • Tip: Align the project with the AI Act, DSA election guidelines, and related rules.

• Mistake: Failing to involve election stakeholders.

  • Tip: Include authorities, civil society, media, and platforms where appropriate.

• Mistake: Producing abstract analysis without practical outputs.

  • Tip: Aim for tools, recommendations, standards, or implementation guidance.

FAQ

What is the main goal of this call?

• To strengthen electoral integrity in the digital age.

• To help EU and national actors respond to AI, misinformation, and cyber threats.

How much funding is available?

• The total budget is €12 million.

• Typical project funding is about €3.5 million to €4 million.

Who can apply?

• Any legal entity worldwide, subject to Horizon Europe rules.

• This includes universities, NGOs, research bodies, companies, and international organisations.

What themes are most important?

• AI transparency.

• Misinformation and disinformation.

• Foreign interference.

• Cybersecurity.

• Voter verification.

• Democratic trust.

• Inclusive elections.

Do proposals need to be interdisciplinary?

• Yes.

• The call strongly encourages social sciences and humanities combined with AI, cybersecurity, and data science.

Do applicants need a validated PIC at submission?

• No.

• A validated PIC is required before grant agreement preparation, not at submission stage.

Which EU frameworks should proposals align with?

• The AI Act.

• Digital Services Act election guidelines.

• Political Advertising Regulation.

• Commission recommendations on resilient and inclusive elections.

• Codes of conduct on disinformation.

Conclusion

This Horizon Europe call is designed to help Europe defend electoral integrity in a rapidly changing digital environment. The strongest proposals will combine research, technology, policy, and stakeholder engagement to build more secure, transparent, and trustworthy elections.

For more information, visit EC.