AI chatbots are under scrutiny for spreading misleading voter information ahead of the US midterm elections, with reports that they misidentify candidates, rely on unreliable sources, and sometimes echo disinformation from foreign actors.

Public trust in AI for election information is mixed: a National Conference on Citizenship survey finds 40% trust tools for logistical voting details, while 60% say they are not or barely unbiased about candidates.

In a Forum AI study across eight models, about 40% of chatbot responses to election queries contained at least one error, with procedural voting details frequently incorrect.

Tech companies respond with quality controls and updates, with Google, Anthropic, and Microsoft stressing efforts to surface reliable information and update responses as new data emerges.

Google and Microsoft acknowledged evolving responses to disinformation, with Google updating systems and Copilot labeling the claim as fabricated; Anthropic did not respond to AFP.

Major players emphasize ongoing accuracy improvements and protections, noting updates and policy measures while awaiting further input from remaining firms.

The study underscores the need for continuous monitoring and improvements in AI to provide trustworthy election information and mitigate manipulation risks.

Examples include Claude mislisting a former school superintendent as a candidate and Google Gemini 3.6 Flash incorrectly stating the Pennsylvania mail-in ballot deadline.

Additional errors: a chatbot misidentifying Don Davis’s credentials and another incorrect Pennsylvania deadline, potentially causing voters to miss deadlines.

Anthropic's Claude also misidentified a candidate’s credentials, and Google’s Gemini 3.6 Flash provided an incorrect mail-in deadline for Pennsylvania.

Experts warn that as election information flows through AI tools across platforms, accuracy and reliable sources are critical for voter guidance.

Related discussions include coverage on AI-generated election content and spending by political candidates on such content.