AI and digital tools in electoral processes may expose poll bodies

A group of international election experts has cautioned that the growing use of digital and AI-based tools in electoral processes could expose poll bodies to cybersecurity risks and undermine transparency if safeguards are not in place.

The observations were made during an international symposium on AI and Elections: Innovation, Integrity and Institutional Preparedness, organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), the training arm of the Election Commission of India.The international panel included representatives from International IDEA, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, IIT Palakkad and private AI experts.

Experts noted that while technology can improve efficiency, excessive dependence on opaque automated systems and external tech ecosystems could weaken institutional autonomy. Uneven access to technical expertise across regions may also widen disparities between electoral jurisdictions.

The discussions come amid controversy, with Saket Gokhale of the Trinamool Congress questioning the Commission over alleged AI software used in the special intensive revision of voter rolls. Gokhale claimed that voter names from the 2002 rolls were translated from Bengali to English using AI, producing errors that flagged 1.67 crore voters as discrepancies, leading to 95 lakh notices for hearings.

Panellists acknowledged AI’s potential to enhance electoral administration: improving voter facilitation, strengthening accessibility for marginalised communities, optimising logistics, supporting data-driven decisions, and modernising communication with citizens.

At the same time, misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes threaten public discourse and voter trust, while algorithmic bias could erode fairness, and digitisation increases cybersecurity vulnerabilities. To tackle these challenges, the ECI and experts plan a multi-pronged approach: monitoring and removing misinformation , auditing AI tools for bias, strengthening cybersecurity , maintaining human oversight of automated decisions , and training officials in collaboration with tech experts.

The symposium concluded with a clear message: while AI and digital tools offer immense promise for modernising elections, their integration must be carefully managed, transparent, and accountable . Electoral bodies cannot afford to be reactive; preparedness, ethical oversight, and human vigilance must guide every step to ensure that technology strengthens, rather than undermines, the integrity of democracy.