Election Security: AI Can Boost Election Integrity, if Done Correctly

It has become clear over the past several years that maintaining U.S. election integrity is not just a single agency’s responsibility. Conducting fair and accurate elections is the responsibility of each state and territory. Meanwhile, nation-states, partisans, and scammers can interfere with voter information, try to cast doubt on election outcomes, and spread disinformation across social media, to name just a few. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) issued a report in early 2021 pointing out that enemies of the U.S. see our elections “as an opportunity to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions and processes, sow divisions in our society, weaken our alliances, and promote their political, economic, or ideological agendas.” When used by election officials, artificial intelligence tools can play an important role in ensuring that elections are carried out securely, reliably and efficiently.