South Dakota: Hand counting-voting machines debate rages | Stu Whitney/South Dakota News Watch

A survey involving 49 out of the state’s 66 county auditors revealed that nearly 90% of respondents do not consider hand counting an effective and efficient method of tabulating ballots due to increased chances of human error and time consumption, with many expressing trust in current tabulation machines. Despite a state law mandating post-election audits using hand counts, some auditors advocate for hand counting only in smaller elections, while others, like Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson, support hand counting with proper training and resources. Read Article

National: AI can be easily used to make fake election photos – report | Mike Wendling/BBC

The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that despite prohibitions on creating misleading images, researchers were successful 41% of the time in generating fake election-related images using popular AI tools like Midjourney, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus, Stability.ai’s DreamStudio, and Microsoft’s Image Creator. These images included fictional depictions of presidential candidates engaged in compromising situations and fake scenarios undermining trust in the voting system, such as tampering with ballots and voting machines. While some platforms blocked the creation of images featuring real politicians, they were less effective in preventing the production of false images related to voting and polling places. The CCDH called for AI companies to implement safeguards like keyword filters and restrictions on creating images of real politicians to combat the spread of AI-generated misinformation. In response, companies like OpenAI, Stability AI, Midjourney, and Microsoft stated that they are working to strengthen safeguards and prevent the abuse of AI-generated content, especially during elections. Read Article