“Indian election was awash in deepfakes – but AI was a net positive for democracy”
Not sure I agree that the conclusion follows from the examples, but it’s an intriguing argument in The Conversation.
Social-pressure mailers back in the news
Since Gerber, Green & Larimer’s 2008 study – among the most widely cited articles in political science since that time – there’s been both academic and practical interest in the sizable turnout impact of mailings using the shaming impact of… Continue reading
“Incumbent fends off far-right challenge in local Nevada race with potential elections implications”
Local elections are really, really, really important, example #194820.
“Elections Brain Drain”
The [North] Carolina Public Press has a really important three-part series on funding for election official positions. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
And there’s a timely related story from [South] Carolina as well.
Turns out… Continue reading
“2020’s ‘fake elector’ schemes will be harder to try in 2024 – but not impossible”
Derek Muller, for The Conversation, recounts some of the ways that both the law and enforcement have changed in the last four years.
Speaking of which, Wisconsin Public Radio reports that an attorney charged last week in the Wisconsin false-elector… Continue reading
“Voting machine contract under scrutiny following discrepancies in Puerto Rico’s primaries”
Yikes.
And also, this is a pretty good and exceedingly timely reminder to wait for the real analysis to figure out what happened and why, before jumping to conclusions.
“North Dakotans Approve Age Limit for Members of Congress”
I get that this was a political messaging thing … but it’s very hard to see how this is constitutional under U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton.
“AI can make our elections safer—if we use it correctly”
Chris McIsaac offers a valuable in-depth look at AI in elections over at R Street. I’m really looking forward to digging in.
From the executive summary:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already having an impact on upcoming U.S. elections and… Continue reading
“Cheap fakes”
Deceptive selective editing has been around a whole lot longer than credible deepfakes.
(Cf. Sasha Issenberg’s recent conversation with Chris Hayes on MDM and its responses.)
Campaigns Understand that Extreme Appeals Turn On the Spigot of Small Donations:
“Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. Arkansas Board of Apportionment”
Caroline Walker has written this comment for the Harvard Law Review on the Eighth Circuit’s decision that no private right of action exists to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The comment explores whether plaintiffs might be able… Continue reading
Hard to beat this split-screen
NBC News on courting older voters with phone banks and pickleball.
WaPo on courting younger voters with beer and birth control.
And the money quote: “‘You have to be able to drink the beer whether you voted… Continue reading
“One of the biggest changes ever proposed for Colorado elections is on a journey to this November’s ballot”
Colorado Public Radio with more on the proposed initiative to implement a top-four primary with ranked-choice voting for the general election.
Meanwhile, there’s a signature campaign in Maine to get two initiatives on the ballot: voter ID and a repeal… Continue reading
“America’s Top 100 Donors Heavily Favor Trump and the Republicans”
Mother Jones parses the most recent campaign finance data.
Politico has thoughts (“Wall Street Titans Shake Off Qualms and Embrace Trump”), which Anthony Scaramucci echoes.