Knowledge management and digital literacy: influence on citizens during an electoral process in Apurímac, Perú

Abstract

Introduction: The progressive digitization of electoral processes requires people to have access to reliable information and to use it through technological tools. In rural areas, limitations in connectivity, device availability, and digital literacy can limit informed citizen participation. In this sense, the efficient management of electorate knowledge allows for the organization, dissemination, and use of relevant information to develop skills, participation, and digital security. This study investigated the relationship between knowledge management and digital literacy among citizens of a district in Apurímac during 2025. Objective: To determine the influence of knowledge management on the digital literacy of citizens participating in the electoral process of a district in Apurímac in 2025. Methods: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational-causal, and explanatory study was conducted. The population consisted of 1,180 citizens of legal voting age, and the sample comprised 80 participants selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Data was collected using a survey. In this regard, two questionnaires with 21 items each were administered; the first addressed knowledge management and the second, citizens' digital literacy, both divided into three dimensions. The content was validated by expert judgment, achieving reliability coefficients of Cronbach's Alpha of 0.832 and 0.846, respectively. The data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS version 26, applying descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, model fit reports, and Nagelkerke's pseudo-R-squared. Results: 48.8% of the participants were found to be at a low level of digital literacy and managing knowledge only moderately. The majority (71.3%) presented a low level of digital literacy, while 28.8% showed a moderate level; none presented a high level. The overall model was significant (p=0.003) and had a 13.4% influence on digital literacy. There were also some significant effects on digital competence (p=0.008; Nagelkerke R²=0.146), digital participation (p=0.003; R²=0.134), and digital security (p=0.004; R²=0.165). Conclusion: Knowledge management significantly influenced, albeit in a limited way, citizens' digital literacy and its three dimensions. The results demonstrated that organizing and disseminating electoral information is insufficient if barriers to connectivity, access to technology, and digital training exist. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen contextualized, continuous, and accessible institutional strategies that can integrate electoral information, as well as the development of capacities and practices, especially in rural populations, in order to promote informed and reliable participation in increasingly digital electoral scenarios.