The Ballots & Bots: Democracy’s Frontlines--Election Officials, Journalists, and the Challenge of AI

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the information environment in which Americans participate in democracy. From the administration and security of elections to journalism, political communication, and public discourse, AI presents both extraordinary opportunities and profound new challenges. How can democratic institutions protect the integrity of elections while ensuring that Americans continue to have confidence in the people, processes, and institutions responsible for conducting them? The Ballots & Bots: Defending Democracy, Elections, and Public Trust in the Age of AI brings together election officials, civic leaders, journalists, attorneys, policymakers, technology and cybersecurity experts, researchers, and members of the public to examine these questions and consider how we can strengthen democracy in an era of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence. The second panel, “Democracy’s Frontlines: Election Officials, Journalists, and the Challenge of AI,” will turn to the people working on the front lines of democracy. Election officials and journalists face growing challenges in an information environment where authentic information can compete with synthetic content, misinformation, and increasingly convincing AI-generated material. The panel will consider how election administrators, news organizations, public-interest institutions, and other civic actors can respond while preserving transparency, accountability, and public confidence. Panelists include: • The Hon. Dave Boliek, State Auditor, State of North Carolina • Tim Boyum, anchor & reporter, Spectrum News (NC) • Veronica Degraffenreid, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Brennan Center for Justice • John Drescher, senior editor, The Assembly (NC) At its heart, The Ballots & Bots is an invitation to confront the challenges posed by AI without losing sight of the fundamental principles that sustain democratic government. The goal is not simply to understand what artificial intelligence can do, but to ask what we must do—as citizens, institutions, and democratic leaders—to ensure that technology strengthens rather than undermines confidence in our elections and our democracy. The conference was co-presented by Catawba College's Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service and the Task Force for American Demcracy.