Social Policy

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

In the wake of the 2020 U.S. Election, public confidence in accurate vote counting has declined, with many, including elected officials, believing elections are rigged against their preferred candidates. Growing distrust in political candidates, government officials, and the media, combined with rising threats and harassment of election workers, is straining U.S. democracy and raising concerns about democratic backsliding. At the heart of these issues is the spread of election misinformation, which both mobilizes and suppresses voters. Misinformation has corrupted the election information ecosystem, making voters susceptible to false narratives. Generative AI tools, which can create and spread misleading content, pose an additional threat to the integrity of election information. The use of AI in elections is already evident, with instances of AI misleading voters about candidates and voting procedures. These developments spark debates over responsibility for ensuring accurate voter information and whether federal regulation of big tech or techno-solutions can address the challenges of misinformation and AI use. This course explores these debates, examining scholarly research on election science, political behavior, and political psychology. Students will engage with the role of key stakeholders, like government and election officials, and assess strategies to combat misinformation and AI-generated content. The course will also evaluate current policy frameworks and provide recommendations for policymakers, candidates, civil society, and the private sector. By completing this course, students will: - Understand the U.S. election information ecosystem and its key stakeholders - Analyze the policy landscape around misinformation - Critically assess research on misinformation’s impact on democracy - Develop mitigation strategies and policy interventions - Produce policy recommendations for relevant stakeholders Through a series of assignments, you will build skills that pro-democracy civil society organizations, government organizations, but also election offices desire: strong writing skills across a variety of mediums; independent work ethic; knowledge of democracy policy; knowledge of communications and technology policy; data collection and analysis; problem-solving skills; work independently and as part of a team.