AI in Elections: Revolutionizing the Vote or Threatening Autonomy?
May has elections across Texas, and competition is heating up—with some predictably strong results in some parts of the state and some surprising outcomes in others.?
In recent years, election integrity has been a significant issue for many states as they battle the balance between voting security transparency and public trust in the electoral system.?
Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided to hear a case dealing with the legality of mobile voting sites without first letting it wind through any lower appellate courts.?
With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technology, voting has a vastly influential role in how we use technology in our electoral process.?
But let’s take a step back to the 1990s when the mobile phone was at the peak of new technology. The advent of the smartphone and the fact that we live almost all of our lives on our small handheld devices ignites the question that has been asked for the better part of two decades: When can we vote from our phones??
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided to directly address the legality of mobile voting sites without waiting for lower appellate courts to rule.?
This decision stems from a lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, representing Racine County Republican Party Chair Ken Brown, alleging illegal use of a voting van by Racine city officials in 2022.?
A circuit judge previously ruled against mobile voting sites. The Supreme Court's move, with a newly liberal majority, increases the likelihood of a reversal. Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who won her seat in 2023, declined to recuse herself from the case despite a motion by Brown. The justices voted 4-3 to take up the case, with conservative justices dissenting, suggesting potential political motives behind the decision.
The prevalent issue at the intersection between voting and technology is the security component. Opponents of voting machines cite less potential for fraud with handwritten paper ballots, arguing that paper ballots allow for hand counting, vote origination, and hard-copy verification.?
Regarding laws, Congress has passed legislation that sets forth requirements for voting systems. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA; 52 U.S.C. §§ 20901-21145), in particular, includes, among other things, federal requirements for voting systems (52 U.S.C. § 21081). As authorized by HAVA, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) promulgates voluntary federal guidelines to assist states in implementing these requirements for their voting systems.
New 11 CFR 100.34(a) defines “record” broadly as “information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium from which the information can be retrieved and reviewed in visual or aural form.”
New 11 CFR 100.35 defines the terms “written,” “in writing,” and “a writing” to mean “consisting of letters, words, numbers, or their equivalent set down in any medium or form, including paper, email, or other electronic message, computer file, or digital storage device.”
To clarify that regulatory signature requirements may generally be met electronically, new 11 CFR 100.36 defines “signature” and “electronic signature.”
“According to a survey of election workers released May 1 by the Brennan Center for Justice, more than half reported feeling concerned about the safety of colleagues and staff, both this year and in 2022.”
Given these considerations, it is clear that we should be cautious about integrating new technology into our election systems. Artificial intelligence is part of our lives, and before we integrate technology into our electoral process, we must set safeguards to ensure the transparency and uniqueness of the American election system.?
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3 个月No ai for/ with elections! Never will trust ai ever if the government wants it! Especially if the dems wants it to!