Cybersecurity in the Electoral Sphere: Legal and Technical Considerations on a Hybrid Threat

This article analyzes the challenges and responses related to cybersecurity in the electoral sphere, with special attention to the role of the Venice Commission and its most recent reports (2019, 2020, 2024). The study examines how technological advances, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and hybrid threats pose serious risks to electoral integrity, transparency, and trust. It highlights the need to adapt criminal law and electoral legislation, recognize elections as critical infrastructure, and establish robust frameworks for cooperation between states and private actors. Moreover, it stresses the importance of fostering a democratic cybersecurity culture that extends from institutions to citizens, supported by international standards such as ISO certifications, information security management systems, and independent audits. By combining legal, technical, and cultural measures, democracies can strengthen their resilience and safeguard the legitimacy of elections in the digital era.