Citizens need to be protected in the processing of personal data particularly during the election period when large amounts of personal data are processed, including those available in the electoral registers. As regards the registers data privacy has to be balanced against the transparency required for electoral integrity. New technologies pose new threats to the privacy of the voters, which currently includes the right to keep their vote confidential but should be extended to include the right to gather information before making a decision, and the right to private online browsing and free communication throughout the internet. The individual’s online behaviour cannot be monitored without the free, specific, informed and unambiguous consent of the data subject or other legitimate basis laid down by law according to Article 5(2) of Convention 108+. Furthermore, when the processing concerns sensitive categories of data such as information revealing political opinions, an explicit consent may also be required as complementary protection (Article 6 of Convention 108+).