Lawmakers Press Agencies on AI Chatbot Election Misinformation

Two members of Congress are calling on federal agencies to address the growing risk that artificial intelligence chatbots could spread election misinformation to voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) sent a letter Tuesday to the heads of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Federal Election Commission. The lawmakers asked the agencies to coordinate efforts ensuring AI models deliver consistent, accurate responses when voters seek election information.

Research reveals widespread chatbot failures

The bipartisan letter references a 2024 study from the Institute for Advanced Study that tested how AI chatbots respond to typical voter questions. Researchers found that more than one-third of responses were either harmful or incomplete. Every model tested performed poorly when handling election-related queries, according to the study.

The research examined models last updated at the end of 2023. While AI systems have evolved since then, the lawmakers noted that when they contacted major AI companies earlier this year, the firms acknowledged both progress made and the limitations of voluntary safeguards in preventing political bias and misinformation.

The letter also highlighted concerns about AI training data, citing reporting that approximately 40 percent of AI information comes from Reddit, followed by Wikipedia and YouTube. "These sources present an environment filled with unverified information, where anyone with an opinion can shape the narrative," the lawmakers wrote. "By relying on this information, systems cannot reasonably present a full picture of unbiased information to voters."

Why it matters

Voters are increasingly treating AI chatbots as alternatives to traditional news sources when researching elections, according to recent reporting from The New York Times. As millions of Americans turn to these tools for political information, inaccurate or biased responses could directly influence voting decisions and undermine confidence in democratic processes. With midterm elections months away, the window for implementing safeguards is narrowing.

Agencies urged to act before midterms

The lawmakers pressed federal agencies to develop monitoring and mitigation capabilities specifically designed to counter AI-driven threats to election integrity. "As millions of Americans rely on AI-driven tools to research the upcoming election, the accuracy and neutrality of these tools are now directly tied to the integrity of our democratic process," they wrote.

CISA and the departments of Homeland Security and Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Federal Election Commission declined to comment on the letter.

These details were first reported by The Hill.