Hacking elections: A quantitative analysis of cyber-enabled foreign election interference

10 March 2026, Version 1
This content is an early or alternative research output and has not been peer-reviewed at the time of posting.

Abstract

While there are many individual case studies of foreign election interference in the form of cyberenabled attacks on elections and electoral institutions, there are few if any quantitative studies of this disruptive phenomenon. This study quantitatively analyzes 85 cyber-enabled foreign attacks on elections and electoral systems worldwide between 2014 and 2020. The cases include various attackers as well as attack vectors such as denial-of-service attacks, cyber operations, influence operations, and information warfare and disinformation. The 34 targeted countries span multiple regions and vary by national power, economic status, government type, and other political and social measures. The analysis is intended to identify characteristics of countries that make them more or less vulnerable to this form of attack.

Keywords

Influence operations
Election Interference
Cybersecurity

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