‘Who Should I Vote for?’ Voters Turn to A.I. Before Casting Their Ballots

It takes effort to be an informed citizen. Artificial intelligence tools offer an alluring shortcut — but they’re not without risk.

Mia Taylor's experience is not unique, as many voters face similar challenges when deciding on local contests. In Los Angeles County, there are over 100 elections held every year, with voters often having to choose between numerous candidates. To navigate this complexity, some voters are turning to artificial intelligence tools, such as BallotReady and VoteSmart, which provide personalized recommendations based on users' answers to surveys. These tools have been used by over 1 million voters in the past year alone.

The use of AI tools to inform voting decisions can have a direct impact on the outcome of local elections, which in turn affect the services and policies that residents rely on. For example, in Los Angeles, the city's budget for public transportation is decided by local officials, and the outcome of these elections can influence the quality and affordability of these services. With over 50% of voters using some form of online resource to inform their decisions, the influence of AI tools can be significant. This can result in a tangible impact on residents' daily commutes.

The rise of AI-powered voting tools is part of a broader trend towards increased use of technology in the electoral process. In the 2020 US presidential election, online voter guides and recommendation tools were used by over 10% of voters, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. This shift has been driven in part by the increasing complexity of ballots and the decreasing amount of time voters have to research candidates. Insiders note that the use of AI tools raises important questions about the role of technology in democracy and the potential for bias in these systems.

As the use of AI-powered voting tools continues to grow, regulators and election officials will be watching closely to see how these tools perform in upcoming elections. A key test will come in the 2024 primaries, where the use of these tools is expected to increase significantly. One surprising detail is that some AI tool developers are already exploring the use of blockchain technology to increase transparency and accountability in their systems, a move that could potentially increase trust in these tools among voters and regulators.