AI in elections: how it can be an ally for voters

All about Artificial intelligence

*By Alessandra Montini, Director of LabData, FIA
The proliferation of fake news during elections represents one of the greatest threats to democracy, as false news spreads quickly on social media, often with the aim of manipulating public opinion and distorting reality.

A survey by the DataSenado Institute revealed that half of Brazilians find it difficult to identify whether news is true on the internet. While 72% of respondents believe they have received fake news in the last six months, 81% believe that fake news can significantly affect the election result.

In this scenario, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a crucial ally for voters by identifying, analyzing and mitigating the spread of misleading information. AI tools, such as pattern detection algorithms and natural language analysis, have the ability to monitor large volumes of data in real time, flagging dubious content and offering quick fact checks, acting as a kind of digital shield that protects the integrity of elections.

In addition to monitoring and flagging misleading content, AI-powered platforms can create safer environments for voters by providing filtering mechanisms that help distinguish between truthful information and hoaxes. This role is essential to ensuring that voters’ decisions are informed and based on solid facts, not misinformation. However, the implementation of these technologies needs to be transparent, so that verification processes are clear and understandable to the public, preventing AI from becoming a disguised censorship tool.

Another challenge that many voters face during the election period is the volume of information, which can make choosing a candidate a confusing and exhausting process. AI also excels at personalizing this information, helping voters quickly find the most relevant data about candidates and their platforms, according to their interests and concerns. With virtual assistants and recommendation algorithms, AI can provide personalized content on specific topics, such as health, education or public safety, guiding voters through a sea of ​​information and promoting more conscious and targeted engagement.

Voter education is another area where AI can make a significant contribution, preparing voters to cast a more informed and informed vote. Intelligent chatbots can answer frequently asked questions about the electoral process, explain how voting systems work, and clarify doubts about candidates’ proposals. These resources are especially useful for young voters, people with less access to formal education, or individuals who are unfamiliar with electoral mechanisms.

AI-powered interactive environments, where voters simulate voting scenarios and learn about the impact of their choices, help strengthen democratic culture by making the voting process more accessible and understandable for everyone.

AI also plays a vital role in voter inclusion, especially for those facing physical or access barriers. Tools like screen readers, voice assistants, and machine translation systems allow more people, regardless of their circumstances, to actively participate in the electoral process.

For example, visually impaired voters can benefit from detailed descriptions of campaign materials, while speech recognition technology can help hearing-impaired voters follow debates and speeches. In this way, AI promotes inclusion that goes beyond physical accessibility, creating an electoral environment where everyone feels part of the democratic process.

Read more:

The future of elections is increasingly intertwined with technological innovation, and it is up to everyone – governments, technology companies and civil society – to work together to ensure that this technology promotes a fairer, more inclusive and representative electoral environment. In this way, voters cease to be mere spectators and take on the role of protagonists in building their own political future, amplifying their decisions and making them more conscious and inclusive.