New York State Attorney General Janice Lowe released the latest election security guidelines ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections on November 3, less than three weeks away. The guidance warns that AI-generated fake photos, videos, and voices are becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate, and AI chatbots may provide incorrect information on voting locations, deadlines, and eligibility. Lowe reminds voters not to easily trust online information and to verify with official election authorities to avoid missing the opportunity to vote.
With rapid advancements in AI technology, creating realistic fake election information has become easier than ever before. Malicious individuals may exploit AI to forge images and voices of candidates or government officials, even producing notifications that appear to be official government announcements, misleading voters’ perceptions of candidates or providing inaccurate voting instructions.
Lowe cautioned that AI not only has the ability to produce convincingly false content but also chatbots could confidently offer incorrect answers.
According to New York State law, political communication content that includes realistic but AI-generated or otherwise manipulated images, videos, or voices must be appropriately labeled. However, many false contents circulating on the internet are not labeled, and tools claiming to identify AI-generated content may not always be accurate.
If individuals come across suspected AI-fabricated election content, they can report it to the social media platforms where it is published. For misinformation related to voting times, locations, methods, or qualifications, complaints can be lodged with the State Attorney General’s Office.
When submitting online complaints, individuals can select “Other” as the complaint category and specify “Election Misinformation,” attaching copies of the suspicious content.
New York State’s general election day in 2026 is scheduled for November 3 (Tuesday), with early voting taking place from October 24 (Saturday) to November 1 (Sunday).
Starting from October 24, the State Attorney General’s Office will set up an election protection hotline to assist voters with voting queries and complaints. Election Protection Hotline: 866-390-2992; online complaint link: electionhotline.ag.ny.gov