Mentor/s
Mantas
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the concept and practice of power in the context of voting in the United States. AI has allowed campaigns and institutions to communicate more efficiently, analyze voter behavior, and manage elections with greater precision. However, this same technology introduces major risks. These include the manipulation of public opinion, misinformation, cybersecurity threats, and unequal access to political influence. Through real-world examples and expert insights, this paper examines how AI impacts who holds power, how it is exercised, and what that means for democracy in the U.S. It draws on Robert Dahl’s influential theory that “A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do” (Dahl, 1957), to examine how AI empowers certain actors to influence voters’ behavior. This analysis begins by exploring traditional ideas of power, continues with real-world election examples like the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and concludes by considering legislative responses and digital literacy solutions to curb AI’s potential harms.
College and Major available
College of Arts and Sciences, Criminal Justice MA, Political Science
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Session 6: Digital Commons & Martire 217
Start Day/Time
4-24-2025 2:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-24-2025 3:15 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Best Writing
What impact does AI have on American elections?
Session 6: Digital Commons & Martire 217
This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the concept and practice of power in the context of voting in the United States. AI has allowed campaigns and institutions to communicate more efficiently, analyze voter behavior, and manage elections with greater precision. However, this same technology introduces major risks. These include the manipulation of public opinion, misinformation, cybersecurity threats, and unequal access to political influence. Through real-world examples and expert insights, this paper examines how AI impacts who holds power, how it is exercised, and what that means for democracy in the U.S. It draws on Robert Dahl’s influential theory that “A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do” (Dahl, 1957), to examine how AI empowers certain actors to influence voters’ behavior. This analysis begins by exploring traditional ideas of power, continues with real-world election examples like the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and concludes by considering legislative responses and digital literacy solutions to curb AI’s potential harms.
Students' Information
Andrea Villalba Simon, Political Justice and Criminal Justice, Honors, 2025