Data & Policy uses a single-blind peer review model. This means that the identity of the authors is known to the peer reviewers, but the identity of the peer reviewers is not known to the authors.

Peer review of Data & Policy research articles typically involves securing the input of three reviewers. Authors are given the option of selecting an Area of Interest when they submit and this may impact which member of the editorial committees handles the paper. The Editor obtains two reviews from people with relevant academic expertise who are capable of commenting on the rigour of the research. The Editor typically also obtains a review from someone providing a different perspective: a reviewer with relevant policy expertise or expertise from a relevant but different discipline. After receiving the reviews the Editor forms a decision, which is approved by one of the Data & Policy Editors-in-Chief. For other article types, the Editor secures input from two reviewers.