North Macedonia receives cybersecurity guidance to strengthen electoral integrity
A new report, North Macedonia Elections Cybersecurity Report, has been released, assessing cybersecurity risks in the country’s electoral processes and offering detailed recommendations to strengthen the resilience of democratic institutions against growing digital threats.
The report focuses on the cyber preparedness of election-related IT systems and infrastructure, based on consultations with national stakeholders and research conducted around the 2024 elections.
Priit Vinkel, Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy, emphasises the report’s practical value:
“This report provides North Macedonia with practical suggestions to strengthen the cyber resilience of its elections through realistic, high-impact steps that improve coordination, secure infrastructure, and increase public trust in democratic processes.”
Key proposals include appointing a chief cybersecurity officer within the State Election Commission (SEC), introducing multi-factor authentication, conducting regular audits, and developing a centralised IT system registry.
As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, the report urges swift implementation of low-cost, high-impact measures to enhance security, including tailored training for election staff, secure communications protocols, and inter-agency coordination frameworks. The report also highlights the importance of aligning national cybersecurity legislation with EU standards.
By prioritising these actions, North Macedonia can take meaningful steps to safeguard the integrity of its elections and reinforce public confidence in its democratic systems.
The findings were discussed with key election stakeholders during a cybersecurity workshop held in Skopje on 9 April 2025. The full report has been shared with the SEC and the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia.
The report is part of the European Union-funded project “Cybersecurity Rapid Response for Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia 2.0”, implemented by the e-Governance Academy.
