Transparencia Electoral met with officials from ONPE and RENIEC to strengthen personal data protection in Peru’s electoral processes
As part of a project spearheaded by the organization with the support of Privacy International, both bodies committed to improving their policies and guidelines aimed at safeguarding citizens’ personal information.
Lima, Peru – September 29th, 2026 – Leandro Querido, Executive Director of Transparencia Electoral, held two working meetings today in Lima with the heads of two of Peru’s electoral management bodies: Bernardo Pachas Serrano, Director of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), and Carmen Velarde, Head of the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC).
The meetings took place within the framework of a project on personal data privacy in the electoral context, which Transparencia Electoral is conducting with the support of Privacy International. The initiative seeks to promote higher standards for safeguarding voter information across Latin America, amidst a landscape where the increasing digitization of electoral processes, the use of voter rolls and biometric registries, and the micro-targeting of political messages pose new challenges for democracy, as well as for citizens’ privacy and rights.
Key project objectives include evaluating the regulatory frameworks and institutional practices regarding personal data processing in electoral processes; identifying risks and best practices in the management of voter rolls, civil registries, and identification systems; promoting concrete recommendations for electoral bodies, political parties, and other stakeholders handling voter information; and strengthening dialogue between civil society and authorities regarding privacy protection as a prerequisite for electoral integrity.
«Privacy is an individual right, and it must be viewed from that perspective rather than merely as a technological or administrative matter… Cybersecurity is part of the issue, but privacy goes beyond technical concerns; it also involves considering: what data is collected? for what purpose? who has access or authorization? with whom is it shared? how long is it retained? and when must it be deleted?» noted Querido following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with RENIEC, adding that the agency «has demonstrated a proactive attitude of transparency regarding the responsible handling of personal data.»
During the meetings, Querido highlighted the Personal Data Protection in Elections Index developed by Transparencia Electoral. This tool analyzes the level of protection countries in the region provide for voters’ personal data, taking into account both current legislation and the policies and practices of the agencies responsible for managing such data. The Index enables the comparison of experiences, the identification of areas for improvement, and the guidance of reforms that contribute to more secure and trustworthy elections.
As a result of these meetings, both ONPE and RENIEC committed to improving their policies and guidelines aimed at protecting citizens’ personal data within the electoral context; they also agreed to continue working with Transparencia Electoral on a shared agenda, based in part on Privacy International’s Electoral Cycle Checklist.
Transparencia Electoral thus reaffirms its commitment to promoting electoral processes that are characterized by integrity and transparency and that respect fundamental rights throughout the region.
About Transparencia Electoral
Transparencia Electoral is a Latin American civil society organization dedicated to election observation, research, and the promotion of democratic quality and the integrity of electoral processes in the region.
About Privacy International
In the digital age, the use of technology by governments and corporations can compromise our freedoms and human dignity. Therefore, PI’s mission is to safeguard democracy, protect individual privacy, and promote transparency and accountability within public and private institutions.
