AI + Elections Clinic Chicago Bootcamp

The Mechanics of Democracy Lab organized another successful AI + Elections Clinic Bootcamp, hosted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. The bootcamp brought midwest election officials, experts, and researchers together to explore how artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the election landscape. 

Delivered in partnership with Ready for Tuesday, with support from Microsoft, the full-day bootcamp combined technical instruction, collaborative activities and exercises, and live demonstrations designed specifically for election administrators.

Throughout the day, participants worked through real-world questions facing election offices today: 

How can AI responsibly support election operations? Where do risks emerge? And what guardrails are needed to protect public trust and election integrity?

Programming featured experts from across the elections, cybersecurity, and civic technology spaces, including Michael Moore, Chief Information Security Officer with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, whose sessions demonstrated to participants how navigating AI-enabled threats can be taken on and what ethical boundaries need to be considered. Sessions throughout the day also included experts and practitioners from the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Cyber Policy Initiative. 

We are thrilled for what’s to come from our continued work with such essential players in the election administration and technology spaces.