Mia Taylor faced her Los Angeles County election ballot recently with the usual mix of responsibility and uncertainty. Choosing in numerous local elections can be daunting. On a whim, she turned to a tool that has become quite popular: Claude.

Claude is an AI chatbot developed by Anthropic. It’s designed to analyze data and engage in natural conversations. Initially, when Ms. Taylor asked it whom to vote for, Claude declined to provide a direct answer. It is equipped to avoid political questions to prevent bias. However, Ms. Taylor, who identifies as a liberal Democrat, refined her query. She asked for connections to reputable progressive groups and strategic voting guidance.

In response, Claude provided links to voter guides and detailed descriptions of each race. Ms. Taylor was particularly concerned about the mayoral election. She wanted to prevent Spencer Pratt, a Republican candidate, from securing a spot in the top two of the open primary. Claude suggested voting for the incumbent, Karen Bass, instead of Nithya Raman from the City Council. Ultimately, Mr. Pratt did not advance, while Ms. Bass and Ms. Raman moved on to the general election.

The 2026 midterm elections in the United States may mark the first significant use of AI by voters to help make their decisions. This indicates a shift towards artificial intelligence in guiding electoral choices.