Kelly Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill Regulating AI Use in Election Administration

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has reintroduced a bipartisan bill to set standards on the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in election administration.

Named the Preparing Election Administrators for AI Act, Sen. Kelly's bill requires the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create a series of voluntary guidelines for election offices addressing the potential benefits and risks of AI in election administration, cybersecurity, information sharing about elections, and the spread of election-related disinformation.

As he noted in his press release, the bill passed out of the Rules Committee with a unanimous vote in 2024.

"Free and fair elections are central to our democracy. While AI can be a helpful tool, it creates new risks that election administrators must be ready for," said Sen. Kelly, adding, "This bipartisan bill will ensure that our election officials have the tools they need to safeguard our elections while using new technologies effectively and responsibly."

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), one of the bill's cosponsors, stated, "We know that AI is being used to spread disinformation about voting. To safeguard our free and fair elections and support hardworking election officials, comprehensive guidelines are needed to address AI's impact on election administration. This bipartisan legislation will prepare state and local officials to address the risks that AI poses to our elections."

"In an era when artificial intelligence technology is rapidly advancing, election administrators would benefit from comprehensive guidance in order to effectively counter potential threats to our election processes," said Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). "By requiring the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission to develop voluntary guidelines for state and local election officials nationwide on the use and risks of AI, this bipartisan legislation will help our elections officials to better prepare for and more quickly address such risks."

The advancing capabilities of AI have been a concern of Democrats and Republicans alike, with Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) recently chairing a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the criminal application of AI, specifically in the usage of deepfakes.