The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Elections

Abstract

The digital revolution, characterized by the proliferation of social media and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has significantly impacted the political landscape of every country where free and fair elections are conducted. AI has the potential to affect the elections both positively as well as negatively. It is an opportunity to improve the democratic process in our societies by helping citizens to gain a better understanding of politics and engage more easily in democratic debate. Politicians can also improve their ability to represent the people by getting to know them better. This kind of cooperation between voters and elected officials has the potential to transform political campaigns and significantly enhance the process of formulating public policy, rendering it more precise and effective. On the other hand, there are certain concerns over the use of AI in politics as it poses multiple risks to democracies like misinformation and disinformation campaigns including deep fakes, the amplification and weaponization of hate speech, micro-targeting of voters, racial and gender stereotyping, AI-driven campaigning and the possibility of aspects of electoral processes being targeted through automated messaging such as political bots and chatbots. These AI-driven disinformation tools have the capacity to distort public opinion, influence voter attitudes, and jeopardise the democratic process itself. This paper critically examines the influence of AI on elections and democracy and underscores the need for robust regulatory frameworks and digital literacy initiatives to safeguard the democratic ethos in the age of AI.