ABEC Chairman Joins Regional Talks on AI, Campaign Finance and Election Integrity

Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) Chairman Ambassador Arthur G. B. Thomas joined election officials from across the Americas in Santo Domingo this week for talks on how electoral bodies can prepare for technology failures, respond to AI-driven disinformation and improve transparency in campaign financing.

The 19th Inter-American Meeting of Electoral Management Bodies ran from November 11 to 13. It was convened by the Organization of American States and the Dominican Republic’s Central Electoral Board.

ABEC said the meeting gave it an opportunity to learn how other electoral bodies are addressing challenges that could affect elections in Antigua and Barbuda. A recurring theme was the need to plan throughout the electoral cycle, with contingency measures, cooperation between institutions and timely communication with voters.

In discussions on election technology, speakers examined how electoral bodies can allow independent verification of the systems they use while protecting ballot secrecy and voters’ personal information. They also emphasised the need to demonstrate that new technology works accurately and to have a workable backup if it fails.

The meeting also looked at how crowdfunding and cryptoassets are being used in political financing. Participants discussed how to identify donors, make contributions transparent and ensure that donations are properly reported.

Sessions on disinformation examined how artificial intelligence can spread misleading content faster and to a wider audience. Participants highlighted the importance of making official election information easy to find and responding to misleading claims with clear, evidence-based information.

The meeting also saw the launch of a regional initiative to help electoral bodies prepare for operating in complex political environments, with training and other resources proposed. ABEC said it would draw on the discussions as it considers measures suited to Antigua and Barbuda’s electoral system and legal framework.