Global 2025 election review outlines challenges and innovations

Disinformation, opaque campaign funding and violence continued to challenge election integrity in 2025, while electoral authorities and civil society developed new ways to protect participation and public trust. A new international review documents both these pressures and practical responses, from overseas voting in Albania to ballot reform in Argentina.

Published by International IDEA in collaboration with the Electoral Integrity Project, the Review of the 2025 Year of Elections: Inclusivity, Transparency and Trust draws on monitoring of national elections held in 39 countries, complemented by 20 case studies and further examples . Chapters examine voting arrangements, electoral reform, campaign finance, malpractice, electoral and gender-based violence, the information environment and election administration.

The study finds “no noticeable shift in overall electoral integrity” in 2025, although the global average conceals improvements and setbacks in individual countries. Campaigns remained the weakest stage of the electoral cycle, particularly media coverage and political financing. Among the national elections monitored, disinformation or misinformation appeared in at least 62 per cent of cases, administrative malfunctions in 49 per cent and election-related violence in 38 per cent.

The monitoring sample excluded countries classified as not free or scoring low on credible elections.

Money, manipulation and violence

The chapter covering campaign finance describes how unequal resource distribution disadvantages smaller parties, women and independent candidates. Corporate donations, misuse of public resources, foreign interference and poorly regulated online spending can distort competition. The study says that “strengthening political finance regulation is an essential democratic imperative”.

Bolivia illustrates how civil society can help address gaps in oversight. With party financial reports not required to be public and auditing capacity limited, the Jubileo Foundation monitored traditional and social media. Its findings according to the report informed early warnings to electoral authorities disinformation, incitement to violence and negative campaigning.

The review also examines manipulation of electoral rules, voters and ballots. It refers to vote buying in the Philippines and the exclusion of opposition candidates in Tanzania.

Argentina provides a contrasting example: replacing separate party ballots with a single ballot with all options in the October legislative elections was assessed positively for reducing party officials’ undue influence. Counting also became faster without an increase in invalid votes.

Participation and protection

A separate chapter examines violence against women, including physical attacks and abuse facilitated by technology. “Responsibility cannot rest with those targeted”, the study notes, calling for prevention, enforcement and support involving political parties, public institutions and civil society.

In Chile, the electoral service brought public institutions, digital platforms, media and civil society together to address disinformation, hate speech and digital violence, according to the review. Monitoring tools and coordination with platforms complemented public education, although the report says these efforts still need consolidation into lasting state policies.

Legal reform also expanded participation. Albania introduced overseas voting for its 2025 parliamentary election following a Constitutional Court ruling that the absence of such arrangements violated citizens’ constitutional rights.

International cooperation

The report’s conclusions connect inclusion, transparency and trust. Electoral authorities need independence, reliable funding, trained personnel and preparations for disruptions. New technologies require human oversight and data protection, while clear communication helps citizens understand procedures and assess competing claims.

The study also emphasizes that financial flows, foreign interference and online manipulation cross borders. It highlights the Stockholm Consensus adopted by electoral management bodies from around the world and growing international cooperation more generally as responses to challenges that national regulatory frameworks alone may be unable to address.