AI and Electoral Campaigns

Offers a groundbreaking analysis of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the dynamics of political communication and electoral competition

AI and Electoral Campaigns delivers a timely, in-depth exploration of how artificial intelligence is disrupting the foundational processes of electoral democracy. As AI technologies increasingly shape political communication, this much-needed book equips readers to identify and critically assess the emerging threats to transparency, fairness, and legitimacy in democratic elections. Drawing on real-world cases from across the globe—including Argentina, India, the U.S., and Slovakia—the authors present an empirically grounded taxonomy of AI-related threats, including deepfakes, firehosing, cognitive hacking, astroturfing, and psychographic microtargeting.

AI and Electoral Campaigns fills a critical gap in the literature by addressing not only the political and communicative dimensions of AI's role in elections, but also its legal and ethical implications. The authors propose a clear framework to evaluate the impact of AI through principles-based analysis and present comparative insights into the regulatory responses emerging in diverse jurisdictions. With a structured approach that spans historical context, threat classification, ethical considerations, and legal strategies, the book focuses on the systemic challenges AI poses to electoral integrity.

A foundational guide for navigating the next phase of democratic resilience in the digital age, AI and Electoral Campaigns:

• Offers a global analysis of the new vulnerabilities and systemic risks AI introduces to democratic processes
• Features technical, legal, and practical insights from experts with frontline electoral policy experience
• Addresses the role of electoral management bodies (EMBs) in countering AI-driven disinformation
• Includes an in-depth review of current legislative and regulatory responses from different jurisdictions
• Highlights underexplored “cyberpathologies” in political discourse shaped by AI technologies

AI and Electoral Campaigns is essential reading for postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students enrolled in courses such as Political Communication, Media Law, AI and Society, and Electoral Law. It is suitable for degree programs in Political Science, Communication Studies, Law, and Public Policy, and also serves as a key reference for electoral officials, policy makers, and legal practitioners.

About the authors

Prologue

Acknowledgement

Introduction

1.High-Risk Elections in a New Sociopolitical Environment

1.1 From Analog Campaigns to Technopolitics: the Era of High-Risk Elections

1.1.1 Premodern Campaigns

1.1.2 Modern Campaigns

1.1.3 Postmodern Campaigns

1.2 Digital Elections: a New Era for Election Campaigns

1.2.1 Algorithmic Communication

1.3 Electoral Rights and Artificial Intelligence

1.4 The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Conscious Voting Decisions

1.4.1 Conscious Voting and the Cognitive Wars

1.4.2 The Need for an Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Campaigning

2. Uses of artificial intelligence in campaigns: informational dysfunctions in political communication

2.1 Artificial Intelligence at the Service of Democracy

2.2 Artificial Intelligence at odds with Democracy

2.2.1 Disinformation and the Manipulation of Reality

2.2.2 Fragmentation, Polarization, Destabilization and Instigation of Conflict

2.2.3 The Rupture of Equity and Neutrality in Communication

2.2.4 Harrassment, discrimination and political violence

2.2.5 Cognitive hacking

2.2.6 The Dispersion of Control

3. THE REGULATORY RESPONSE

3.1 Preliminary Responses

3.1.1 The First Regulations

3.1.2 Self-regulation

3.2 The Response of Electoral Bodies (Brazil)

3.2.1 Authorization to Use AI 27

3.2.2 Prohibitions on the Electoral Use of Artificial Intelligence

3.2.3 The Platforms’ Obligations

3.2.4 Types of Behavior Targeted by Regulation

3.2.5 Effects on Freedom of Expression

3.2.6 Transparency and Data Protection

3.3 A Global, Comprehensive and Necessary Response

3.3.1 First global responses 62

3.3.2 The Foundations of Regulation

3.3.3 The Central Role of Electoral Bodies

Bibliography

RAFAEL RUBIO NÚÑEZ is Professor of Constitutional Law at the Complutense University of Madrid. A leading expert in electoral and parliamentary law, he advises international organizations on transparency, digital governance, and electoral integrity and has published extensively on political participation and freedom of expression.

FREDERICO FRANCO ALVIM is a legal expert in electoral law and disinformation, with advisory experience at Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. He has published on electoral justice, media integrity, and democratic resilience. He is a founding member of the Brazilian Academy of Electoral and Political Law.

VITOR DE ANDRADE MONTEIRO is a PhD candidate in Constitutional Law at the Complutense University of Madrid. He is a specialist in procedural and electoral law, with published work focusing on digital democracy and comparative constitutional analysis.

EXAMINING THE NEW DANGERS AI POSES TO DEMOCRACY AND ELECTORAL INTEGRITY

AI and Electoral Campaigns provides an in-depth exploration of the transformative role artificial intelligence plays in democratic processes and political communication around the world. Drawing on case studies from countries across the globe—including the United States, India, and Argentina—a team of leading scholars offers a global analysis of the new vulnerabilities and systemic risks AI introduces to democratic processes, ranging from deepfakes and disinformation to algorithmic manipulation and digital polarization.

Through a clear, structured framework, the authors analyze a variety of AI-driven risks, address their ethical and legal implications for political communication, classify AI-related threats, and discuss approaches for mitigating their impact. In-depth chapters move from the historical evolution of campaign strategies, to a detailed examination of informational dysfunctions, to the regulatory responses being shaped by governments and institutions worldwide.

A critical resource for understanding how AI intersects with the political landscape in an era of digital transformation, AI and Electoral Campaigns is required reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in courses such as Political Communication, Media Law, AI and Society, and Electoral Systems. It is also a key reference for researchers, electoral regulators, policymakers, and legal practitioners.