Democratic Regression and Electoral Integrity in the Era of Digital Disinformation

Elections are a fundamental pillar of democratic systems, serving as a mechanism for expressing popular sovereignty and ensuring political legitimacy. However, the rapid expansion of digital communication technologies has generated serious challenges to electoral integrity, particularly through the widespread dissemination of digital disinformation. This study examines how digital disinformation contributes to democratic regression by undermining electoral integrity in contemporary electoral processes and assesses the extent to which existing legal and institutional frameworks are capable of addressing these challenges in order to safeguard free and fair elections. This research employs a qualitative approach using a normative juridical method based on library research. The analysis focuses on legal norms, democratic principles, and doctrinal frameworks governing elections, digital political communication, and the protection of fundamental rights. The findings indicate that digital disinformation significantly distorts political competition, influences voter behavior, and erodes public trust in electoral institutions and outcomes, thereby accelerating democratic regression. Moreover, the study reveals that current legal and institutional arrangements remain insufficient to effectively regulate digital disinformation due to regulatory gaps, limited enforcement capacity, and tensions between electoral regulation and freedom of expression. Consequently, the study underscores the need for more adaptive legal frameworks, stronger institutional coordination, and preventive strategies such as digital literacy initiatives to ensure the protection of electoral integrity in the digital era.