Graphic for CDT's Elections & Democracy work. White background, with a light and dark blue colored ballot box – and a ballot with a digitized trail.

Elections & Democracy

In the last few years, American elections have come under unprecedented attack. In 2016, state and county election systems were scanned and, in some cases, breached by adversaries intent on disrupting the electoral process. In response, CDT worked with election officials to protect voting systems from cyber attack. The 2020 election was considered the most secure election in American history, but this work must continue to ensure an accessible and secure vote.

At the same time, American elections are facing a new crisis of trust, precipitated by the onslaught of disinformation about how elections are administered. Disinformation and misinformation have also been used to suppress voter participation, particularly targeting communities of color. The democratizing power of the internet creates new opportunities — but also new challenges — for supporting fair, informed, and trustworthy elections.

CDT’s Elections & Democracy team fights election disinformation, supports technology that bolsters a fair and secure vote, and works to build a trusted and trustworthy democracy.

Elections & Democracy Topics

We’re talking about the 2022 elections and beyond. Join the discussion.

Recent Content

Graphic for CDT's European office. Pale blue / green pixelated background, with a portion of the EU flag's circle of stars emblazoned in white on top.

EU Tech Policy Brief: March 2024

The CDT logo. A white "cdt" alongside "Center for Democracy & Technology" on a dark grey background.

CDT Hosts Roundtable on Generative AI and Elections with U.S. Department of State Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy

CDT Joins Letter Urging Meta to Maintain CrowdTangle, Election Integrity Efforts in Advance of Historic Year of Elections. White document, black text.

CDT Joins Letter Urging Meta to Maintain CrowdTangle, Election Integrity Efforts in Advance of Historic Year of Elections

Graphic for CDT's European office. Pale blue / green pixelated background, with a portion of the EU flag's circle of stars emblazoned in white on top.

EU Tech Policy Brief: February 2024

Graphic for a CDT report, entitled "An Unrepresentative Democracy: How Disinformation and Online Abuse Hinder Women of Color Political Candidates in the United States." Illustration depicting a woman's leg in kitten heel stomping on malicious social media posts while casting a shadow of the U.S. capital building.

Press Release: CDT Original Research on Online Abuse of Women of Color Political Candidates Wins Silver Anthem Award

Graphic for CDT's European office. Pale blue / green pixelated background, with a portion of the EU flag's circle of stars emblazoned in white on top.

EU Tech Policy Brief: December 2023

Read More