It's no secret: Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, learn, and communicate. Increasingly, it is also changing the way people experience elections. From AI generated campaign content to automated misinformation and deepfakes, new technologies are creating opportunities for innovation while raising important questions about transparency and public trust.

These issues were front and centre during the July discussions of the United Nations Global Digital Compact, where governments, experts, and civil society organizations explored how AI can be used responsibly in democratic processes. A key theme emerged throughout the conversations: technology should strengthen democratic participation, not weaken it. Essentially this means promoting transparency when AI is used in political campaigns can help protect voters from deceptive content and ensure that emerging technologies respect human rights and democratic values.

The stakes are high

Elections depend on public confidence that information is accurate, political debate is fair, and voters are able to make informed decisions. As AI becomes more sophisticated, distinguishing authentic content from manipulated material will become increasingly difficult. Without appropriate safeguards, misinformation can spread rapidly, erode confidence in electoral systems, and deepen political polarization. At the same time, AI also has the potential to make democracy more accessible by improving language translation, increasing access to public information, and helping election administrators serve voters more effectively.

The challenge is not whether AI should play a role in our democracies, but rather how it can do so responsibly. International cooperation will be essential to developing shared standards that encourage innovation while protecting the integrity of democratic institutions.

Healthy democracies have always depended on informed citizens and public trust. As technology evolves, those principles remain just as important.