Editor’s Note: Last week, the first AI & Elections Clinic Bootcamp was held on Arizona State University’s Downtown Campus in Phoenix. State and local election officials from around the country joined us for a daylong workshop focused on practical, hands-on exploration of AI tools and election administration use cases. We still have open seats for election officials at our Dec. 2 bootcamp in Washington, D.C. If you’re interested in attending, email tj@electionsgroup.com.
Election officials are navigating a real moment of change, and that was clear as they settled into the room for the first AI & Elections Clinic Bootcamp in Phoenix last week. Most arrived with a healthy mix of curiosity and caution, trying to understand how AI might support their work without undermining the integrity, transparency and trust that define their profession. As the conversation unfolded, their questions sharpened, their worries surfaced openly and a shared sense of possibility began to emerge.
What we heard revealed a lot: what election officials need right now, what concerns feel most urgent, and what aspects of AI genuinely spark interest.
This piece gathers those insights and offers a redesigned learning approach grounded in adult learning principles, ethics and participatory engagement.
Key Learning Themes
1. A Shift From Hesitation to Informed Openness
Participants began with concerns rooted in accuracy, data security, and public trust. Many worried about how to review AI-generated content and what might happen if an AI error reached the public. As the session continued, participants expressed increasing openness as they saw practical examples of AI supporting training, quality checks, and workload management. Their caution did not diminish; instead, it became more nuanced. They walked away understanding AI as a tool that can support, not replace, responsible human judgment.
2. Strong Interest in Practical, Adaptable Tools
Starter packs, GPT templates, and prompt libraries generated energy across the room. Participants valued seeing concrete examples of training GPTs, ballot-checking workflows, and knowledge engines built from local statutes and manuals. However, they wanted to learn how to build, adapt, and maintain these systems themselves. This desire reflects an adult learning need: autonomy and transferable skills matter as much as the tools themselves.
3. AI as a Resource for Training and Quality Assurance
Many officials shared creative examples of how AI helped them modernize poll worker training, generate scenarios, build quizzes, and develop clearer materials. AI was also seen as a potential “second or third set of eyes” during heavy proofing cycles. These examples point to a future where AI becomes a collaborative partner in training, efficiency, and consistency.
4. Clear Demand for Internal and Public-Facing AI Use Policies
Participants described inconsistent guidance, limited permissions from IT departments, and uncertainty around safe inputs. Several offices had AI tools restricted entirely. Others were operating without clear direction. This highlighted a strong need for:
Internal AI use policies
Public-facing statements describing acceptable use
Clarity around what inputs are allowed
Clear review expectations
Practices that protect public trust
Participants noted that transparency will be essential for maintaining confidence.
5. Ongoing Legal, Privacy, and Public Records Concerns
Officials raised questions about data retention, whether GPT logs could be subject to public records requests, and how to manage sensitive information. Responses varied across jurisdictions. This area emerged as one in need of clearer national guidance and collaborative interpretation. Legal clarity will be critical as jurisdictions consider broader AI adoption.
6. Demand for Scalable, Modular Learning Opportunities
Participants strongly supported the idea of short virtual modules for jurisdictions with limited travel budgets or staff capacity. They requested sessions that include:
Clear orientation
Hands-on practice
Real use cases
Curated examples
Time for reflection and conversation
This reflects the field’s need for accessible, equitable pathways into AI adoption.
7. Need for a Shared Community of Practice
Participants repeatedly voiced the desire for ongoing collaboration. They want shared repositories of examples, prompt templates, GPT recipes, and real jurisdiction stories. They want to learn from each other and uplift innovations across states. A sustained community of practice could anchor AI learning and reduce isolation, particularly for small counties.
8. Reframing AI as a Tool, Not a Threat
Many in the public view AI as a force rather than a tool. Participants noted the importance of framing AI as one resource among many: useful, imperfect, and governed by human oversight. This reframing helps reduce fear and positions officials as thoughtful stewards of emerging technology.
Reflecting on the Road Ahead
Taken together, these insights sketch a very specific kind of roadmap, where election officials stay firmly in the driver’s seat while AI becomes a carefully trained passenger. The work ahead involves building shared norms, clear guardrails, and spaces for collaborative thinking about what trustworthy use of AI should look like in election offices.
When AI learning begins with ethics, legal clarity, and peer conversation, every prompt becomes an extension of professional judgment rather than a risk to it. The clinic demonstrated that when officials are given time to experiment, question, and co-design, hesitation can coexist with hope, and both can enhance practice. This is the real opportunity before us now: to cultivate a thriving community of practice where AI supports election workers, and in turn, they continue to serve democracy with care, craft, and visible integrity.
Allison JoAnn Lester, PhD, is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the University College Success by Design at Arizona State University. Her focus is on AI ethics, digital/media literacy, and civic leadership. She hosts ASU’s “Thinking Through... “ podcast on AI, human flourishing, and the futures we are shaping together.
