The ongoing Commonwealth Elections Professional (CEP) Workshop aims to equip regional electoral bodies with the tools to govern artificial intelligence in ways that strengthen, rather than threaten, electoral integrity.
This is according to the Chairman of Trinidad and Tobago’s Elections and Boundaries Commission, Mark Ramkerrysingh, as he opened the workshop on Monday.
Electoral professionals from across the region are in Port of Spain this week to engage in the training initiative.
Mr. Ramkerrysingh highlighted the importance of the training.
“This sharing of information and experience is essential to the management of AI risk because we, as AMBs in this region, share not only common vulnerabilities and common strengths but, more importantly, a common commitment to democratic norms. This workshop is an opportunity to translate our strength into concrete policies and hopefully with improved technical resources and mutual assistance.”
Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Botchwey, noted that electoral bodies are already dealing with an ever-evolving terrain.
“Today election management bodies face a rapidly evolving landscape. Among the most significant emerging trends is a rise of artificial intelligence. AI offers opportunities to improve electoral administration and enhance efficiency. At the same time, it presents new challenges from misinformation and algorithmic bias to risk around data protection and public confidence.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Sonya Koppe stressed the importance of the region’s electoral commissions.
“Your work, the role you play as the guardians and guarantors of electoral integrity in your countries is important to Australia. And in this increasingly uncertain world, supporting our democratic norms, practices, institutions and processes is more important than ever.”
The theme of the five-day training initiative is “Exploring Opportunities and Risks for Electoral Integrity”.