Check. Recheck. Vote.
AI is changing how voters find election information
How are voters using AI this election?
AI is becoming a common starting point for election information. As a voter, you might turn to AI tools—or simply encounter AI-generated summaries at the top of your search results—to learn about candidates, ballot measures, election procedures, and the issues shaping your vote.
Is AI a reliable source for election information?
Treat an AI answer as a starting point, not the final word. Election information can change quickly and often differs by state, county, or city. Confirm registration deadlines, polling locations, ballot instructions, and election results with your state or local election office.
Three questions to ask before relying on an AI answer
Find voting resources in your area
What can voters do to get reliable and useful information from AI?
Check the source
Look for citations or links in the AI answer. Open them and make sure they support what the answer says. If the AI answer does not identify a source, ask it to provide one or search for the information independently.
Ask:
- Does the source actually support the claim?
- Who published this information?
- Does the source have a date and is it relevant to the current election?
Recheck important details
Confirm critical election information with the source responsible for it:
- Use your state or local election office for registration, polling places, ballot rules, deadlines, and results.
- Use original speeches, candidate forums, policy documents, or candidate websites to confirm what candidates say.
- Use credible independent reporting for context and comparison.
Use AI for the right task
- AI may help you organize information, identify questions to research, or summarize long sources. It can be less dependable for information that is changing quickly, highly local, or disputed. AI can help you explore your choices; it cannot decide what matters to you or tell you how to vote.
Report an inaccurate answer
If an AI tool gives you incorrect election information, use its feedback or reporting feature. Your feedback can be a useful signal to identify the issue and improve future responses.
Be alert for deceptive AI-generated content
AI can be used to create convincing fake images, audio, and video. These may be designed to mislead voters about a candidate, an event, or how and when to vote.
Do not rely on appearance alone. Instead, ask:
- Where did this content first appear?
- Can I find the original recording, statement, or event?
- Are reliable news organizations or official sources reporting the same thing?
Some platforms may label AI-generated content or provide information about how an image, video, or audio file was created. When available, review AI labels or provenance information, but remember that not all AI-generated content will be labeled.
If you cannot verify political content, do not share it. Sharing a correction later rarely reaches everyone who saw the original claim.
More from Microsoft
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We empower people to participate in civic life, harnessing technology to support and defend global elections and foster resilient societies.
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Microsoft has a long history of supporting and protecting elections. As the nation marks its 250th birthday, Microsoft is taking new steps to support election officials and political campaigns, strengthen the information ecosystem and encourage civic participation.
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Through products, partnerships, and community initiatives, Microsoft supports civic participation by helping people access trusted information, engage with their communities, and navigate civic life with confidence.
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In 2024, Microsoft joined leaders across the tech sector to stand together to combat deepfakes in elections and ensure that voters retain the right to choose who governs them, free of AI-based manipulation. As part of these commitments, Microsoft continues to lead cross-industry efforts through its role as a co-founder of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) to help develop and implement standards for provenance technologies.
Learn more and spread the word
Check. Recheck. Vote. Tipsheet
#TrustedInfo2026
Build students’ AI literacy with Check. Recheck. Vote.
Help students explore how AI is shaping the election information they encounter. This classroom activity offers practical ways to evaluate AI-generated responses, verify claims with trusted sources, and keep your own judgment at the center when using AI to make sense of election issues and options.
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