“Hey ChatGPT, Should I Vote or Abstain?” How the Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini Can Boost Voter Turnout

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly AI-driven chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini, is growing rapidly. While political concerns around these technologies often center on issues such as the spread of misinformation or the exacerbation of polarization, optimistic views highlight lower barriers to accessing political information and the provision of free, on-demand guidance on voting procedures. Despite these promising advantages, there remains limited research on how, or if, AI chatbots influence political behavior, especially in terms of electoral turnout. This paper seeks to explore the role of AI-driven chatbots in enhancing voter engagement. Specifically, it addresses the following research question: How can the use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini increase electoral turnout? AI chatbots offer accessible, personalized information about political candidates, parties, voting procedures, and key policy issues, helping to address barriers like voter apathy by providing quick, cost-free access to political knowledge. By engaging voters in dynamic, interactive conversations, these systems have the potential to simplify complex political concepts and make the voting process more user-friendly. When strategically deployed, AI chatbots could become a powerful tool in boosting electoral turnout, fostering a more inclusive and participatory democracy. As such, the political use of AI chatbots, whether for inquiries about political parties, candidates, or the electoral process, could foster voter turnout. To address the research question, this paper draws on a novel, representative dataset (N=1200) focused on the political use and implications of interacting with AI chatbots. Collected in Germany in January 2026, the dataset provides comprehensive insights into individuals' attitudes towards AI chatbots and their political use, along with a range of other political attitudinal variables, crucial for exploring the impact of AI chat-bots on turnout.