FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2026

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Richard Hernandez
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New research finds AI is already becoming part of voters’ election information environment as questions remain about trust, deepfakes and how campaigns should use the technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Association of Political Consultants Foundation (AAPC Foundation) released the inaugural AAPC Foundation AI Voter Study, a national survey examining how likely 2026 voters are encountering, using and trusting artificial intelligence in the context of elections, at the AAPC Foundation’s Power, Politics, & AI Forum on Monday.

“One of the clearest takeaways from the Forum is that AI is no longer a future issue for campaigns and voters. One in five voters say they plan to use AI to look into a race on their ballot, but twice that many have already gotten election information from an AI search summary, often without knowing AI wrote it,” said Julie Sweet, AAPC Director of Advocacy and Industry Relations. “AI is already part of the environment campaigns work in, and the job now is making sure political professionals use these tools in ways that keep voters’ trust.”

The survey of 1,568 likely 2026 general election voters, conducted September 14–22, 2026, finds that AI has become part of voters’ everyday information environment faster than trust in the technology has developed.

Among the study’s key findings:

• AI is already routine. Six in ten voters use AI tools at least a few times a month, and 25% use them daily.
• Few voters deliberately seek AI out for election information, but many get it anyway. At least 38% have received election information through an AI search summary, and only about half knew it was AI-generated.
• Trust remains extremely low. Just 1% of voters name AI tools as their most credible source of election information.
• Democrats and Republicans use AI at about the same rate, but judge its impact very differently.
• Voters under 35 are among the most negative about AI’s effect.
• Voters are drawing clear lines around campaign use of AI. Nearly all reject fake videos of opponents, and large majorities also reject AI voice cloning and other public-facing uses.
• Voters worry far more about AI misleading other people than themselves. 66% are very concerned deepfakes could change how other people vote, compared with 33% who say the same about themselves.

The full Executive Summary is available here.

The complete Top Line Results are available here.

Findings Unveiled at Power, Politics & AI Forum

The research was released in conjunction with the AAPC Foundation’s Power, Politics & AI Forum, on Monday at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

The forum brought together an all-star group of leaders from political campaigns and consulting, media, technology, academia, research, public affairs and policymaking for an afternoon examining how artificial intelligence is changing the way voters receive information, how campaigns communicate and how political professionals approach elections.

Conversations throughout the program explored the new voter research as well as broader questions surrounding AI and voter trust, political communication, journalism, campaign strategy, regulation and the future of elections.

The study marks the first installment of an ongoing AAPC Foundation research initiative. The Foundation plans to repeat the survey over time, providing a benchmark for tracking how voters’ use of, exposure to and trust in artificial intelligence change as the technology becomes increasingly integrated into political communication and everyday life.

About The AAPC Foundation

The American Association of Political Consultants Foundation works to support a vibrant democratic process. The Foundation champions the expansion and protection of political speech and the political process while promoting education, mentorship and opportunities for the next generation of political professionals.

Through research and educational initiatives such as the AI Voter Study and Power, Politics & AI Forum, the Foundation brings together leaders from across industries to examine developments with significant implications for political communication, campaigns and democracy.

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