Do you have a plan to vote this fall?
My department is working to answer your questions. We also want to protect public safety and carry out the will of the voters. We collaborate with other agencies at the local, state, and federal level every election to ensure Michigan's elections remain safe, accurate, and fair.
Technology makes it easier than ever to access information about elections. It also makes it easier to access information about candidates and their policy positions.
Unfortunately, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has also made it easy for misinformation on to spread to voters. That’s why you should always double-check your facts with at least one official source. Confirm with a trusted news outlet, your local clerk, or the Michigan Bureau of Elections.
My department put together the following guide as part of our efforts to combat misinformation this election season. We want to help you recognize artificial intelligence and access accurate information about elections online. The Michigan Voter Information Center is also an invaluable resource to help you register. It can also help you find your polling location, track your ballot, and more.
Our democracy is stronger when people are well-informed. Widespread participation among eligible voters also makes us strong. Remember to cast your ballot on or before November 4. Make your voice heard this fall.
Sincerely,
Dana Nessel
Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used to spread election lies.
Deepfakes and AI-created content are on the rise. It can often be difficult to tell fact from fiction.
A deepfake is video or audio that has been altered. It could use someone's face or voice. The video or audio appears to show that the person said or did something that did not happen.
Deepfakes can be hard to spot. Advances in AI technology allow them to be used to spread false information.
AI can be used to create phone calls. It is also used to create emails and text messages. These communications can interact with the people who get them. The recipients believe they are having conversations with real people.
For example, you may see a video of Attorney General Dana Nessel speaking about the election. Or you could see a screenshot of a press release. Find out who posted the materials. Confirm that other official sources are sharing similar information.
In 2023, Michigan passed a law that requires politicians and campaigns to disclose when AI is used in campaign ads. Violations of this law could result in fines or jail time.
Confirm that the content you see on social media was posted by official accounts. Make sure they come from trusted sources.
Would you be able to spot the difference between a real call and an AI-created one?
Confirm with multiple sources when in doubt. Being “verified” does not make an account trustworthy. Impersonators can get verified.
Verified accounts with many followers may spread election lies. Local election officials are the most trusted sources. They give accurate voting and election-related information.
Social media can be a dangerous place to get information for the election.
We've found some posts that spread information and have corrected them for you.
Correct Information:
There are 7.2M active registered voters 7.9M citizens of voting age in Michigan.
Correct Information:
Voters must be inactive for two federal election cycles before being removed under the federal National Voter Registration Act.
Removing these names before the election would violate the law.
You should confirm anything you see or hear on the topics below:
Check with your local clerk. Confirm with the Michigan Bureau of Elections. Or contact the Michigan Department of State:
Get trusted nonpartisan information if you are unsure that a story or claim is true.
You can get information from the Michigan Department of State, the Michigan Bureau of Elections, or your local clerk. You can also check these websites:
Please report inaccurate information about Michigan voting or elections. Include an image if possible.
