Fall Conference marks inaugural AI + Elections Clinic Bootcamp

The second day of MODL’s Fall Conference marked a milestone with the inaugural AI & Elections Clinic Bootcamp, a hands-on, interactive workshop designed to give election officials, leaders, and experts practical experience integrating AI into election administration workflows. While the first day of the conference focused on discussion and strategic frameworks, the bootcamp emphasized applied learning, experimentation, and skill-building.

The bootcamp began with guided instruction from Noah Praetz, TJ Pyche, and Trevor Timmons with The Elections Group, helping participants set up accounts on AI platforms including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and CoPilot. Attendees explored the functionality of these platforms in a structured environment, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge of AI and practical application in the context of election administration. Michael Moore, CISO for the Arizona Secretary of State, provided instruction on implementing AI responsibly while maintaining security, transparency, and public trust. He also showcased the implications that AI use could have on increasing misinformation and deepfake creation by creating video and image deepfakes as well as audio of participants.

Participants were encouraged to put their knowledge to the test by creating custom prompts, generating images, and drafting documents using their AI platform of choice. Exercises ranged from election-themed Mad Libs to drafting press releases, memos, and advisories for hypothetical election “crises,” giving attendees an opportunity to explore creative prompt engineering and experiment with guiding AI outputs for clarity, accuracy, and relevance. These activities reinforced that AI, when used thoughtfully, can be a powerful tool to support election officials’ work rather than replace human decision-making.

In addition to hands-on exercises, the bootcamp included discussions on the ethical landscape of AI and its practical application in the workplace. Experts from Georgetown University, Ioannis Ziogas and Lia Merivaki, addressed questions of transparency, accountability, equity, and responsible use, highlighting frameworks that enable officials to adopt AI tools without compromising public trust. Robert Stanley, Arizona State University, addressed how AI can be a useful aid for emergency preparedness and planning during a potential crisis. These discussions helped participants understand the broader implications of AI while grounding the technology in practical strategies for day-to-day election operations.

Throughout the day, participants worked through real-world scenarios that reflected the rapidly changing landscape of elections, gaining insights into workflow optimization, voter communication, and administrative processes enhanced by AI tools. Experts from The Elections Group also introduced how leaders can use AI with other already implemented tools to manage emergency situations.  By the conclusion of the bootcamp, attendees left with hands-on experience, practical strategies, and confidence in integrating AI into their offices responsibly.

The success of the AI & Elections Clinic Bootcamp reflects MODL’s commitment to equipping election officials with the knowledge, skills, and frameworks needed to navigate a technologically evolving elections landscape. These programs demonstrate how applied training, combined with discussions on ethics and responsible innovation, can help officials maintain secure, transparent, and efficient election systems.

MODL looks forward to building on this momentum with future workshops, clinics, and collaborative learning opportunities, continuing to empower election leaders with the tools and expertise to strengthen democracy through thoughtful technology adoption.