Acronyms and abbreviations 4

Executive Summary 5

Key findings 5

Key features of AI transformation in elections 6

About this publication 7

1. Introduction and background 8

BOX 1 - Electoral assistance and the United Nations 9

2. Overview of AI: capacities and models 10

What is AI and what can it do? 10

AI applications and related technologies 11

AI is not perfect: current limits and deficiencies 11

Global Digital Compact and relevance for electoral management 13

3. AI in electoral processes: the UN and global perspective 13

Digital public infrastructure 16

Digital transformation and elections 18

4. Inclusive AI digital transformation in elections 18

BOX 2 - Models for promoting inclusion in AI and digital transformation 19

Bias in Data, Design and Deployment 20

BOX 3 - Three sources of bias in AI electoral systems 21

Overarching principles and considerations for AI uptake in electoral processes 21

5. Guiding the planning and preparation for AI use in electoral processes 24

Core Requirements 25

BOX 4 - Technical considerations for acquiring AI 27

BOX 5 - The essential - but insufficient - role of humans in AI oversight 29

6. Practical application: how and where to use AI in electoral administration 31

BOX 6 - Cybersecurity and AI 33

Enhancing institutional capacity through AI adoption 34

BOX 7 - Accessibility and AI 35

Examples across the electoral cycle 37

BOX 8 - AI for election data quality and insights 38

BOX 9 - Voter information and chatbots 39

BOX 10 - AI processing of electoral paperwork and unstructured forms 40

BOX 11 - Agentic AI for election administration 40

The importance of quality data 42

Responsible data governance 42

7. Electoral data and AI: approaching data to support effective AI and privacy 42

Data protection practices to data policies 43

Data infrastructure 44

Interoperable data 44

BOX 12 - Open-source approaches: when to use, including for electoral processes 45

8. Key takeaways and approaches to AI transformation in elections 46

Bibliography 50

Notes 51