Over the past few years, many US election deniers have been bombarding local election officials with paperwork and filing numerous Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. This has created a significant burden on election workers, with some officials reporting that they spend their entire workday fulfilling these requests. According to Tammy Patrick, CEO of the National Association of Election Officials, the workload has become unsustainable for many election offices.
In Washington state, the situation reached a breaking point following the 2020 presidential elections, where the state’s voter registration database was inundated with FOIA requests. The sheer volume of requests forced the legislature to intervene and redirect these requests to the Secretary of State’s office to alleviate the strain on local election workers. Democratic state senator Patty Kederer emphasized the financial and manpower cost of processing these requests, especially for smaller counties that lack the resources to handle such a high volume.
The introduction of generative AI technology poses a new and potentially more significant threat to local election officials. Experts and analysts are concerned that AI-powered systems could be used to mass-produce FOIA requests at an unprecedented rate, further overwhelming election workers and disrupting the electoral process. Companies like OpenAI and Microsoft have developed chatbots that are capable of generating complex FOIA requests, including specific references to state-level laws.
Zeve Sanderson, director of New York University’s Center for Social Media and Politics, highlighted the potential for bad actors to exploit AI-generated FOIA requests to obstruct election processes. These requests could be used to distract election officials from their primary duties of administering elections effectively. The ease at which AI systems can produce tailored FOIA requests raises concerns about the readiness of governments to combat election deniers and protect election integrity.
Generative AI companies like OpenAI and Microsoft play a pivotal role in shaping the impact of their technology on local election officials. While AI systems have the potential to streamline various processes, including information requests, these companies must implement safeguards to prevent their systems from being abused. Without proper guardrails in place, there is a risk that AI-powered tools could be weaponized to disrupt electoral activities and undermine democracy.
Sanderson pointed out that large language models are adept at mimicking human behavior, making them effective at crafting persuasive FOIA requests. The ability of AI systems to create requests that target specific vulnerabilities in election administration raises red flags about the potential exploitation of these technologies. As demonstrated by WIRED’s experiment, AI-generated FOIA requests can be remarkably detailed and specific, creating additional challenges for election officials.
The proliferation of generative AI technology poses a significant threat to local election officials and the electoral process as a whole. The potential for bad actors to exploit AI systems to inundate election workers with FOIA requests raises concerns about the resilience of election systems in the face of evolving threats. As technology continues to advance, it is essential for AI companies and policymakers to collaborate on implementing safeguards that protect the integrity of elections and prevent undue interference from malicious actors.
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