DC Hackathon
AI + Elections Challenge Brings Election Officials and Students Together to Explore Responsible
AI Innovation
On October 9, 2026, the AI and Elections Clinic, in partnership with the University of Maryland, hosted
the AI + Elections Challenge at Arizona State University’s Barrett & O’Connor Center in Washington,
D.C. The half-day workshop brought together election officials, civic partners, and university students
from diverse academic backgrounds to explore how artificial intelligence can support election
administration and strengthen digital literacy.
the AI + Elections Challenge at Arizona State University’s Barrett & O’Connor Center in Washington,
D.C. The half-day workshop brought together election officials, civic partners, and university students
from diverse academic backgrounds to explore how artificial intelligence can support election
administration and strengthen digital literacy.
Designed as a hands-on, collaborative experience, the challenge encouraged students to work directly
with experienced election officials to identify real-world challenges and develop practical, ethical AI tool
concepts. Participants explored how AI could help voters better understand election information,
recognize misinformation, and navigate election-related news with greater confidence.
with experienced election officials to identify real-world challenges and develop practical, ethical AI tool
concepts. Participants explored how AI could help voters better understand election information,
recognize misinformation, and navigate election-related news with greater confidence.
Throughout the workshop, election officials served as mentors, sharing their expertise and helping student
teams brainstorm ideas, refine concepts, and consider the practical realities of election administration. The
event culminated in a live project showcase, where teams presented their ideas and participating officials
evaluated the proposed solutions.
teams brainstorm ideas, refine concepts, and consider the practical realities of election administration. The
event culminated in a live project showcase, where teams presented their ideas and participating officials
evaluated the proposed solutions.
The challenge emphasized that meaningful election innovation is not simply about adopting new
technology. It requires thoughtful collaboration, responsible AI design, and a clear understanding of the
people and institutions technology is intended to serve. By bringing students and election professionals
together, the workshop created an opportunity to connect fresh perspectives with firsthand experience in
administering elections.
technology. It requires thoughtful collaboration, responsible AI design, and a clear understanding of the
people and institutions technology is intended to serve. By bringing students and election professionals
together, the workshop created an opportunity to connect fresh perspectives with firsthand experience in
administering elections.
No coding or prior technical experience was required. Instead, the challenge centered on curiosity,
teamwork, and learning by doing, empowering students across disciplines to contribute to conversations
about the future of election administration.
teamwork, and learning by doing, empowering students across disciplines to contribute to conversations
about the future of election administration.
Through initiatives like the AI + Elections Challenge, the AI and Elections Clinic and its partners are
helping cultivate the next generation of civic leaders while exploring how responsible AI can support
informed voters, effective election operations, and public trust in democratic institutions.
helping cultivate the next generation of civic leaders while exploring how responsible AI can support
informed voters, effective election operations, and public trust in democratic institutions.