In order to guarantee the right to free elections “under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature” as provided for in Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the ECHR, the Venice Commission has issued three recommendations concerning cyberthreats which remain relevant and need to be implemented:

- Criminalising cyber-attacks against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of election computers and data in pursuance of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime;
- Providing the criminal justice authorities with the necessary powers to secure electronic evidence of violations of rules on protection of personal data, on political finances, on media coverage or on the broadcasting of election;
- Preparing national Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) for emergency situations and having in place crisis management organisation; EMBs should be provided with adequate resources and training to adopt digital technologies and address the related cybersecurity risks.