Newly appointed election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu have assumed their roles, being the first members appointed under the new law for Chief Election Commissioners and ECs.

India: Newly appointed Election Commissioner takes charge

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led selection committee has finalized the names of two new election Commissioners weeks ahead of the general elections in the country.

India: Meeting over poll commissioner selection ends

According to the seat-sharing agreement, the BJP will contest on six Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, while the TDP will contest on 17 seats.

India Elections 2024: NDA seals Andhra Pradesh seat deal

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) on Monday cleared names for 12 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, sources said.

India Elections 2024: Congress to announce 2nd list

India has a thriving digital economy, and powering this ambitious vision is a class of workers who have become an important voter base when India polls for its next government. So, what are the demands of this new digital native group? That's what this report decodes...

Indian elections 2024: Gig workers seek better income & social security

Former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan has found his political debut, but this time in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal. For many, his political stint comes as a bit of a surprise and, if sources are to be believed, he took this decision after deep consideration.

India elections 2024 | West Bengal: TMC reels in former cricketer Yusuf Pathan

Two election commissioners are expected to be appointed by March 15, as per sources. These appointments are set to fill the vacancies left by the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel.

India elections 2024: Two election commissioners likely to be appointed on March 15: Report

Welfare schemes and freebies are an integral part of India's polity. The line between what constitutes a freebie and a welfare scheme is a hazy one. But they have a huge impact on the political economy of India. We decode more on Pollnomics today.

India's race to power: Decoding India's 2024 election contest, welfare scheme ecosystem

India's race to power: Decoding India's political economy, welfare scheme ecosystem

The Kremlin on Wednesday (March 6) said that Russia will not interfere in the US presidential election. Watch this video to know more.

Will Russia meddle in the US presidential election? Here's what Kremlin has to say

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a significant rally in Srinagar on March 7, marking his first visit since the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

Modi in Kashmir: Indian PM to address rally, unveil infrastructure projects in Srinagar

Unofficial reports on Saturday estimated turnout in&nbsp;Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, at about 40%, which would be the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

With heavyweight moderates and conservatives staying out and reformists calling Friday's election unfree and unfair, the contest was essentially among hardliners and low-key conservatives who proclaim loyalty to Islamic revolutionary ideals.

The interior ministry may announce the official turnout later on Saturday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-cast-his-ballot-in-parliamentary-elections-695441">Iran elections underway as over 15,000 candidates vie for seats in 290-member parliament</a>

Tehran's rulers needed a high turnout to repair their legitimacy, badly damaged by anti-government protests in 2022-23 that spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the revolution.

But official surveys suggested only about 41 per cent&nbsp;of eligible&nbsp;Iranians would vote. That appeared to be the case, as Hamshahri newspaper said more than 25 million people, or 41% of eligible voters, had turned out.

Iran's turnout hit a record low 42.5 per cent&nbsp;in 2020 parliamentary elections, while about 62 per cent&nbsp;of voters participated in 2016.

Hamshahri called Friday's turnout "a 25-million slap” to calls for an election boycott, in a front-page headline next to a depiction of a ballot paper smacking United States&nbsp;President Joe Biden in the face.

Watch:&nbsp;Iran: Array of political, social and economic problems

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-array-of-political-social-and-economic-problems-695468/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The election coincided with growing frustration over&nbsp;Iran's economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

It was twinned with a vote for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, an influential body tasked with choosing the 84-year-old Khamenei's successor.

Unofficial reports on Saturday estimated turnout in Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, at about 40%, which would be the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Unofficial reports on Saturday estimated turnout in Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, at about 40%, which would be the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution. With heavyweight moderates and conservatives staying out and reformists calling Friday's election unfree and unfair, the contest was essentially among hardliners and low-key conservatives who proclaim loyalty to Islamic revolutionary ideals. The interior ministry may announce the official turnout later on Saturday. Also Read: Iran elections underway as over 15,000 candidates vie for seats in 290-member parliament Tehran's rulers needed a high turnout to repair their legitimacy, badly damaged by anti-government protests in 2022-23 that spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the revolution. But official surveys suggested only about 41 per cent of eligible Iranians would vote. That appeared to be the case, as Hamshahri newspaper said more than 25 million people, or 41% of eligible voters, had turned out. Iran's turnout hit a record low 42.5 per cent in 2020 parliamentary elections, while about 62 per cent of voters participated in 2016. Hamshahri called Friday's turnout "a 25-million slap” to calls for an election boycott, in a front-page headline next to a depiction of a ballot paper smacking United States President Joe Biden in the face. Watch: Iran: Array of political, social and economic problems The election coincided with growing frustration over Iran's economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms. It was twinned with a vote for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, an influential body tasked with choosing the 84-year-old Khamenei's successor.

Iran election turnout around 40 per cent, say unofficial reports

Iran on Friday held its first parliamentary election since mass 2022 protests over mandatory hijab laws after the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini.

Iranians cast their ballot in twin elections

Iran goes to polls on Friday. Over 15,000 people are contesting in this parliamentary election. More than 61 million people are eligible to vote but authorities fear most of them might skip this election. People are frustrated with rising inflation, growing political mistrust and quashed protests.

Iran: First election since Mahsa Amini protests | People quietly consider skipping the vote

After weeks of turmoil over the formation of a government in Pakistan following Feb 8 polls, the newly-elected Parliament Thursday held its first session at the summon of caretaker President Arif Alvi. Watch in for more details!

Pakistan's newly-elected national assembly convenes

In the latest research, it was found that new AI-powered tools provide inaccurate election information most of the time, which includes is harmful or incomplete.

The study, which was done by AI Democracy Projects and nonprofit media outlet Proof News, comes at a time when the US presidential elections are near as US citizens are opting for chatbots like Google's Gemini and OpenAI's GPT-4 for more information.&nbsp;

The experts have been concerned regarding the advent of powerful new forms of AI because of which voters can receive false and misleading information, or also discourage citizens from voting in the polls.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/google-ai-tools-fascist-modi-response-angers-india-heres-what-exactly-happened-694087">Google AI tool’s ‘fascist Modi’ response angers India. Here’s what exactly happened</a>

<h2>AI likely to suggest non-existent polling stations, illegal rules: Study&nbsp;</h2>

Amid the advancing of artificial intelligence technology, which includes tools that allow users to generate textual content instantly, the new study claims that these AI models are likely to suggest voters head to polling stations which are non-existent or provide illogical responses based on dated or rehashed information.&nbsp;

The study, explaining an instance said AI model Meta's Llama 2, in response to a prompt, said that California voters can vote by text message. When the researchers investigated, they found that voting by text is not legal anywhere in the US.&nbsp;

And among the five AI models which were not tested — OpenAI's ChatGPT-4, Meta's Llama 2, Google's Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and Mixtral from the French company Mistral - all of them stated that wearing clothing which has campaign logos, such as a MAGA hat, is not allowed at Texas polls under that state's laws.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Why Artificial Intelligence is the secret behind Nvidia's success

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However, some policy experts feel that AI can be beneficial in improving elections like powering tabulators which can quickly scan ballots in comparison to poll workers or by finding anomalies in voting, as per the Brookings Institution.

However, the study has emphasised that such tools can also be misused by enabling bad actors, which include governments that aim to manipulate voters and weaken democratic processes.

A recent example was AI-generated robocalls which were sent to voters a few days before the New Hampshire presidential primary which contained a fake version of United States President Joe Biden appealing people not to vote in the election.

"They say they put their models through extensive safety and ethics testing," said Maria Curi, a tech policy reporter for Axios, while speaking to CBS News. "We don't know exactly what those testing processes are. Users are finding historical inaccuracies, so it begs the question of whether these models are being let out into the world too soon," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In the latest research, it was found that new AI-powered tools provide inaccurate election information most of the time, which includes is harmful or incomplete.

In the latest research, it was found that new AI-powered tools provide inaccurate election information most of the time, which includes is harmful or incomplete. The study, which was done by AI Democracy Projects and nonprofit media outlet Proof News, comes at a time when the US presidential elections are near as US citizens are opting for chatbots like Google's Gemini and OpenAI's GPT-4 for more information. The experts have been concerned regarding the advent of powerful new forms of AI because of which voters can receive false and misleading information, or also discourage citizens from voting in the polls. Also Read: Google AI tool’s ‘fascist Modi’ response angers India. Here’s what exactly happened AI likely to suggest non-existent polling stations, illegal rules: Study Amid the advancing of artificial intelligence technology, which includes tools that allow users to generate textual content instantly, the new study claims that these AI models are likely to suggest voters head to polling stations which are non-existent or provide illogical responses based on dated or rehashed information. The study, explaining an instance said AI model Meta's Llama 2, in response to a prompt, said that California voters can vote by text message. When the researchers investigated, they found that voting by text is not legal anywhere in the US. And among the five AI models which were not tested — OpenAI's ChatGPT-4, Meta's Llama 2, Google's Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and Mixtral from the French company Mistral - all of them stated that wearing clothing which has campaign logos, such as a MAGA hat, is not allowed at Texas polls under that state's laws. Watch: Why Artificial Intelligence is the secret behind Nvidia's success However, some policy experts feel that AI can be beneficial in improving elections like powering tabulators which can quickly scan ballots in comparison to poll workers or by finding anomalies in voting, as per the Brookings Institution. However, the study has emphasised that such tools can also be misused by enabling bad actors, which include governments that aim to manipulate voters and weaken democratic processes. A recent example was AI-generated robocalls which were sent to voters a few days before the New Hampshire presidential primary which contained a fake version of United States President Joe Biden appealing people not to vote in the election. "They say they put their models through extensive safety and ethics testing," said Maria Curi, a tech policy reporter for Axios, while speaking to CBS News. "We don't know exactly what those testing processes are. Users are finding historical inaccuracies, so it begs the question of whether these models are being let out into the world too soon," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

AI chatbots providing inaccurate and harmful election information: Study

From India to the United States, more than 50 countries across the world with a combined population of 4.2 billion are expected to hold national and/or local elections in 2024, making it the biggest election year in history. But as voters from various nations head to polls, who are they voting for? What is their decision being based on? Policies? Politicians? Or did AI-generated propaganda manage to sway their opinion?

The historic election year is also taking place at a critical time when experts across the globe are calling on world leaders to regulate the rampant growth of AI, warning about its alarming impact on society, including the elections. Here’s how AI-generated propaganda poses a threat to election integrity.

<h2>AI v/s government officials</h2>

Last week, Google’s new AI-powered chatbot Gemini came under fire after it suggested that some experts believe that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies are <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/google-ai-tools-fascist-modi-response-angers-india-heres-what-exactly-happened-694087">“fascist”.</a>&nbsp;

India’s Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed Google accusing Gemini of violating the country’s IT laws.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas | OpenAI's text-to-video AI generator: All about Sora

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-openais-text-to-video-ai-generator-all-about-sora-691064/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Indian PM who <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-says-world-is-assured-he-is-returning-for-third-term-in-power-top-points-691450">remains&nbsp;optimistic</a> over his return to power for a third consecutive term is set to contest the general election which is expected to take place in the upcoming months, and while this particular incident may not affect his chances to possibly be re-elected, it does raise bigger concerns.&nbsp;

A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University and Georgetown University in the US has found that AI-generated propaganda is just as effective as propaganda written by humans. In this study, researchers also noted that people spreading propaganda could easily use AI to flood online platforms with such information and mass-produce propaganda with minimal effort.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

In the US, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/political-consultant-steve-kramer-owns-up-to-biden-robocall-says-wanted-to-flag-dangers-of-ai-693900">robocall that impersonated</a> President Joe Biden using AI appealed to more than 5,000 New Hampshire voters to not vote in the presidential primary and save their votes for the general elections to be held in November.&nbsp;

The move not only sparked outrage among the voters but also investigations by watchdogs and election officials. This incident prompted the US to outlaw robocalls which use voices generated by AI within weeks.&nbsp;

In the United Kingdom, Home Secretary James Cleverly warned that criminals and “malign actors” could use AI-generated “deepfakes” to rig the general elections. &nbsp;

He also spoke about how people working on behalf of states such as Russia and Iran could generate thousands of deepfakes to manipulate the democratic process.&nbsp;

“The era of deepfake and AI-generated content to mislead and disrupt is already in play,” he told the Times in an interview. He added, “The landscape it is inserted into needs its rules, transparency and safeguards for its users.”

<h2>AI-generated propaganda is persuasive</h2>

In 2022, the release of ChatGPT marked a pivotal moment in the development of AI, and despite being around for less than two years, it has become powerful enough to impact elections across the world.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/googles-ai-model-gemini-faces-shut-down-calls-after-refusing-to-answer-whether-musk-or-hitler-is-worse-693924">'Who is worse? Musk or Hitler?' Google's AI model Gemini faces shutdown calls for refusing to answer question</a>

The previously mentioned study published in the peer-reviewed journal PNAS Nexus used OpenAI’s GPT-3 model – the predecessor and less capable version of the current GPT-4 &nbsp;– to generate propaganda news articles with prompts such as drone strikes, sanctions against Iran, and US involvement in Syria.

The topics covered six main propaganda topics including conspiracy that the US created fake reports that said Syria’s government used chemical weapons and Saudi Arabia committed funding for the US-Mexico border wall.&nbsp;

These topics likely originated from Iranian or Russian state-aligned covert propaganda campaigns which were identified by investigative journalists or researchers.&nbsp;

More than 8,200 Americans who participated in the study were shown real propaganda articles as well as AI-generated ones. The findings were shocking as 43.5 per cent of people agreed with the claims after reading the AI-generated articles and 47.4 per cent believed the real propaganda article.&nbsp;

“This suggests that propagandists could use GPT-3 to generate persuasive articles with minimal human effort, by using existing articles on unrelated topics to guide GPT-3 about the style and length of new articles,” the researchers noted.&nbsp;

The authors of the study also believe that AI could also be used to generate fake social media posts, comments, and even audio and video clips.&nbsp;

“With AI, actors – could quickly and cheaply generate many articles that convey a single narrative, while also varying in style and wording. This approach would increase the volume of propaganda, while also making it harder to detect,” said the team of researchers.&nbsp;

<h2>‘It’s already happening’</h2>

In 2023, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which created ChatGPT, testified before the US Congress saying that the regulation of the “increasingly powerful models” of AI is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-ceo-testifies-before-us-congress-calls-regulation-of-artificial-intelligence-critical-593057">“critical” to mitigate the risks</a> the technology poses.&nbsp;

Altman also spoke about how the use of AI to interfere with election integrity is a “significant area of concern” and nearly a year later he may be right. As of now, there is very little evidence of AI-generated content shaping voters’ opinions, but it is not entirely outside the realm of possibility.&nbsp;

For example, it was not immediately clear if Biden’s fake AI-generated robocall prevented voters from turning out to vote in New Hampshire but it doesn’t matter, said Lisa Gilbert, executive vice-president of Public Citizen, advocating for regulation of AI’s use in politics in the US.&nbsp;

“I don’t think we need to wait to see how many people got deceived to understand that that was the point,” Gilbert said, as quoted by the Guardian.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-chatbot-allowing-users-to-talk-with-hitler-nazi-figures-sparks-radicalisation-fears-689632">AI chatbots allowing users to talk with Hitler, Nazi figures spark radicalisation fears</a>

What happened in the US is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI’s possible impact on elections. In Slovakia, days ahead of the pivotal election, earlier this month, a damning audio of one of the top candidates went viral, reported CNN.

In the clip, a pro-NATO candidate Michal Šimečka was reportedly heard boasting about how he rigged the election. Again, while the number of votes swayed by the leaked audio remains uncertain, the reportedly AI-generated clip sparked concerns among US officials ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.&nbsp;

In Indonesia, posters and billboards of a “doe-eyed cartoon version” of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brutal-general-turned-tiktok-star-prabowo-subianto-sets-eyes-on-indonesian-presidency-664965">Prabowo Subianto</a>, generated by AI, were placed across the country, reported Reuters. The retired general best known for his past brutalities soon came to be known as a TikTok sensation and was described as a delight among Gen Z voters.&nbsp;

The AI-generated cartoon had been central to Prabowo’s electoral rebranding. “I’ll vote for him because he’s gemoy (Indonesian slang for cute and cuddly),” Fika Juliana Putri, 19, a first-time voter told Reuters. She added, “That’s the main reason.”&nbsp;

As experts continue to warn about AI supercharging online disinformation campaigns, some have also said that voters may be more prepared for what’s happening than officials may think.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/expert-voice-simplifying-your-investment-journey-with-ai-694181">Expert Voice: Simplifying your investment journey with AI</a>

“Voters are way more savvy than we give them credit for,” said Katie Harbath, former Facebook employee and now working on trust and safety issues with tech companies, as quoted by the Guardian.&nbsp;

She added, “They might be overwhelmed but they understand what’s going on in the information environment.”

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

From India to the United States, more than 50 countries across the world with a combined population of 4.2 billion are expected to hold national and/or local elections in 2024, making it the biggest election year in history.

From India to the United States, more than 50 countries across the world with a combined population of 4.2 billion are expected to hold national and/or local elections in 2024, making it the biggest election year in history. But as voters from various nations head to polls, who are they voting for? What is their decision being based on? Policies? Politicians? Or did AI-generated propaganda manage to sway their opinion? The historic election year is also taking place at a critical time when experts across the globe are calling on world leaders to regulate the rampant growth of AI, warning about its alarming impact on society, including the elections. Here’s how AI-generated propaganda poses a threat to election integrity. AI v/s government officials Last week, Google’s new AI-powered chatbot Gemini came under fire after it suggested that some experts believe that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies are “fascist”. India’s Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed Google accusing Gemini of violating the country’s IT laws. WATCH | Gravitas | OpenAI's text-to-video AI generator: All about Sora The Indian PM who remains optimistic over his return to power for a third consecutive term is set to contest the general election which is expected to take place in the upcoming months, and while this particular incident may not affect his chances to possibly be re-elected, it does raise bigger concerns. A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University and Georgetown University in the US has found that AI-generated propaganda is just as effective as propaganda written by humans. In this study, researchers also noted that people spreading propaganda could easily use AI to flood online platforms with such information and mass-produce propaganda with minimal effort. In the US, a robocall that impersonated President Joe Biden using AI appealed to more than 5,000 New Hampshire voters to not vote in the presidential primary and save their votes for the general elections to be held in November. The move not only sparked outrage among the voters but also investigations by watchdogs and election officials. This incident prompted the US to outlaw robocalls which use voices generated by AI within weeks. In the United Kingdom, Home Secretary James Cleverly warned that criminals and “malign actors” could use AI-generated “deepfakes” to rig the general elections. He also spoke about how people working on behalf of states such as Russia and Iran could generate thousands of deepfakes to manipulate the democratic process. “The era of deepfake and AI-generated content to mislead and disrupt is already in play,” he told the Times in an interview. He added, “The landscape it is inserted into needs its rules, transparency and safeguards for its users.” AI-generated propaganda is persuasive In 2022, the release of ChatGPT marked a pivotal moment in the development of AI, and despite being around for less than two years, it has become powerful enough to impact elections across the world. Also Read | 'Who is worse? Musk or Hitler?' Google's AI model Gemini faces shutdown calls for refusing to answer question The previously mentioned study published in the peer-reviewed journal PNAS Nexus used OpenAI’s GPT-3 model – the predecessor and less capable version of the current GPT-4 – to generate propaganda news articles with prompts such as drone strikes, sanctions against Iran, and US involvement in Syria. The topics covered six main propaganda topics including conspiracy that the US created fake reports that said Syria’s government used chemical weapons and Saudi Arabia committed funding for the US-Mexico border wall. These topics likely originated from Iranian or Russian state-aligned covert propaganda campaigns which were identified by investigative journalists or researchers. More than 8,200 Americans who participated in the study were shown real propaganda articles as well as AI-generated ones. The findings were shocking as 43.5 per cent of people agreed with the claims after reading the AI-generated articles and 47.4 per cent believed the real propaganda article. “This suggests that propagandists could use GPT-3 to generate persuasive articles with minimal human effort, by using existing articles on unrelated topics to guide GPT-3 about the style and length of new articles,” the researchers noted. The authors of the study also believe that AI could also be used to generate fake social media posts, comments, and even audio and video clips. “With AI, actors – could quickly and cheaply generate many articles that convey a single narrative, while also varying in style and wording. This approach would increase the volume of propaganda, while also making it harder to detect,” said the team of researchers. ‘It’s already happening’ In 2023, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which created ChatGPT, testified before the US Congress saying that the regulation of the “increasingly powerful models” of AI is “critical” to mitigate the risks the technology poses. Altman also spoke about how the use of AI to interfere with election integrity is a “significant area of concern” and nearly a year later he may be right. As of now, there is very little evidence of AI-generated content shaping voters’ opinions, but it is not entirely outside the realm of possibility. For example, it was not immediately clear if Biden’s fake AI-generated robocall prevented voters from turning out to vote in New Hampshire but it doesn’t matter, said Lisa Gilbert, executive vice-president of Public Citizen, advocating for regulation of AI’s use in politics in the US. “I don’t think we need to wait to see how many people got deceived to understand that that was the point,” Gilbert said, as quoted by the Guardian. Also Read | AI chatbots allowing users to talk with Hitler, Nazi figures spark radicalisation fears What happened in the US is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI’s possible impact on elections. In Slovakia, days ahead of the pivotal election, earlier this month, a damning audio of one of the top candidates went viral, reported CNN. In the clip, a pro-NATO candidate Michal Šimečka was reportedly heard boasting about how he rigged the election. Again, while the number of votes swayed by the leaked audio remains uncertain, the reportedly AI-generated clip sparked concerns among US officials ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. In Indonesia, posters and billboards of a “doe-eyed cartoon version” of Prabowo Subianto, generated by AI, were placed across the country, reported Reuters. The retired general best known for his past brutalities soon came to be known as a TikTok sensation and was described as a delight among Gen Z voters. The AI-generated cartoon had been central to Prabowo’s electoral rebranding. “I’ll vote for him because he’s gemoy (Indonesian slang for cute and cuddly),” Fika Juliana Putri, 19, a first-time voter told Reuters. She added, “That’s the main reason.” As experts continue to warn about AI supercharging online disinformation campaigns, some have also said that voters may be more prepared for what’s happening than officials may think. Also Read | Expert Voice: Simplifying your investment journey with AI “Voters are way more savvy than we give them credit for,” said Katie Harbath, former Facebook employee and now working on trust and safety issues with tech companies, as quoted by the Guardian. She added, “They might be overwhelmed but they understand what’s going on in the information environment.” (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: How AI-generated propaganda poses a real threat this historic election year

In the race for the white house, all eyes are now on the Michigan republican presidential primary after Nikki Haley racked up another steep loss in the South Carolina primary to Donald Trump. With the former US President establishing his lead, trouble mounts for Haley as the Americans for prosperity, the political arm of the powerful Koch network ended their financial support for her campaign, who will continue to endorse Haley for president but in the form of words and not with cash.

Trump tightens hold on White House race; trouble continues to mount for Haley

INDIA alliance, formed as the main opposition bloc, has faced significant challenges since its formation in July 2023. Despite efforts to present a united front against the BJP, disagreements over seat sharing and ideological consensus have weakened the bloc. The alliance's future, especially in states like West Bengal and Kerala, remains uncertain as the general elections approach. Vikram Chandra discusses the intense ongoing seat-sharing agreements with political analyst, Sanjay Kumar.

Can I.N.D.I.A stop BJP?

Election countdown: Can I.N.D.I.A unite?

Internet users in Pakistan are turning to virtual private networks to access the social media platform X after the site was blocked over the weekend following a contentious national election and admission of ballot fraud by a local government official.

X still down in Pakistan after official admits Election rigging

India has firmly rejected Canada's claims of interference in Canadian democratic processes. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the allegations as unfounded during a routine press briefing&nbsp;on Thursday (Feb 8).&nbsp;This comes as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service labelled India as a 'foreign interference threat' in a recent report.&nbsp;

While highlighting that India has a commitment to non-interference in other nations' democratic procedures, the MEA spokesperson stated, "We strongly reject such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections."

Moreover, Jaiswal accused Canada of meddling in India's internal affairs. He underscored India's consistent communication with Canada on this matter and urged Canada to address India's concerns effectively.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/two-jetblue-planes-collide-at-boston-airport-us-regulators-investigate-688437">Two JetBlue planes collide at Boston Airport; US regulators investigate</a>

“In fact, quite the reverse, it is Canada who has been interfering in our internal affairs. We have been raising this issue regularly with them, and we continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns."&nbsp;

In the Canadian intel report, China and Russia were also mentioned for their alleged meddling in Canadian politics. The report pointed at China as the primary threat to Canadian democracy.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-advances-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-bill-after-failed-border-deal-688435">US Senate advances $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid bill after failed border deal</a>

In the wake of this report, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a probe into alleged Indian interference in the country's elections in 2019 and 2021.

Besides the purported involvement in Canada's electoral system, China is also facing accusations of establishing illicit police stations throughout Canada.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-drone-strike-kills-pro-iran-commander-in-baghdad-688418">US drone strike kills pro-Iran commander in Baghdad</a>

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Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada escalated following Trudeau's assertion in the country's parliament regarding 'credible allegations' against New Delhi in the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Subsequently, a tit-for-tat exchange of diplomat expulsions ensued, exacerbating the strained relations between the two countries.

Earlier, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a hard-hitting statement against Canada over its elections interference allegations said it is like "the pot calling the kettle black".&nbsp;"I was....what shall I say, the phrase which came to my mind was actually a Hindi phrase which was: 'Ulta chor kotwal ko daantey' (the pot calling the kettle black)," Jaishankar added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

India has firmly rejected Canada's claims of interference in Canadian democratic processes. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the allegations as unfounded during a routine press briefing on Thursday (Feb 8).

India has firmly rejected Canada's claims of interference in Canadian democratic processes. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the allegations as unfounded during a routine press briefing on Thursday (Feb 8). This comes as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service labelled India as a 'foreign interference threat' in a recent report. While highlighting that India has a commitment to non-interference in other nations' democratic procedures, the MEA spokesperson stated, "We strongly reject such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections." Moreover, Jaiswal accused Canada of meddling in India's internal affairs. He underscored India's consistent communication with Canada on this matter and urged Canada to address India's concerns effectively. Also Read | Two JetBlue planes collide at Boston Airport; US regulators investigate “In fact, quite the reverse, it is Canada who has been interfering in our internal affairs. We have been raising this issue regularly with them, and we continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns." In the Canadian intel report, China and Russia were also mentioned for their alleged meddling in Canadian politics. The report pointed at China as the primary threat to Canadian democracy. Also Read | US Senate advances $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid bill after failed border deal In the wake of this report, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a probe into alleged Indian interference in the country's elections in 2019 and 2021. Besides the purported involvement in Canada's electoral system, China is also facing accusations of establishing illicit police stations throughout Canada. Watch | US drone strike kills pro-Iran commander in Baghdad × Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada escalated following Trudeau's assertion in the country's parliament regarding 'credible allegations' against New Delhi in the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Subsequently, a tit-for-tat exchange of diplomat expulsions ensued, exacerbating the strained relations between the two countries. Earlier, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a hard-hitting statement against Canada over its elections interference allegations said it is like "the pot calling the kettle black". "I was....what shall I say, the phrase which came to my mind was actually a Hindi phrase which was: 'Ulta chor kotwal ko daantey' (the pot calling the kettle black)," Jaishankar added. (With inputs from agencies)

MEA dismisses Canada's election interference accusations, says it's meddling in India's internal affairs

At least 29 people were killed and several suffered injuries in a blast near an election office in Balochistan province, on the eve of Pakistan's crucial general elections.

Pakistan elections 2024: 29 killed, 50 injured as deadly explosion rocks Pakistan ahead of polls

Terror outfit Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the twin blasts that shook Pakistan on Wednesday (February 7) just a day before the South Asian country is to hold national elections.

The group took to Telegram to claim that IS fighters detonated the explosives&nbsp;"in the middle of an election gathering...in the Killa Saifullah area in Balochistan" province, not long before claiming authority for a similar attack in the Pishin district of the province.&nbsp;

The fact that a million security officers were deployed across the nation did not stop perpetrators from carrying out the blasts.&nbsp;

"The aim of today's blasts was to sabotage the election," said Jan Achakzai, caretaker information minister for Balochistan province, where the blasts happened.

"Despite today's blasts, the election will take place tomorrow. People of Balochistan will come out tomorrow without any fear."

The first blast involved an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that killed 16 people in the Pishin district of Balochistan. Those killed were standing outside the office of an independent candidate. The location is 50 kilometres from Quetta, the largest city in Balochistan province.

The second blast took place in the city of Killa Saifullah which is about 120 kilometres east. This blast killed 12 people near the office of a candidate from the Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party.

AFP reported that the candidate's office is located in the main bazaar of the city.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-troubled-nation-goes-to-polls-after-day-of-violence-roiled-by-vengeful-politics-shattered-economy-687984">Pakistan: Troubled nation goes to polls after day of violence, roiled by vengeful politics, crisis-hit economy</a>

A total of 34 people were injured in both attacks, according to Achakzai.

This is not the first attack against the (JUI-F) party. Last year in July, a suicide bomber attack at the party's rally&nbsp;claimed 44 lives. The rally was held in northwestern Pakistan.

Gravitas | Pakistan: 1 dead and 3 injured in Karachi explosion

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The third blast was reported from Karachi. As per reports in Pakistani media, one person was killed and a child sustained minor injuries in the blast. The blast took place in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area.

Campaigning for the Pakistan polls officially ended on Tuesday night. The voting is slated to begin at 8 am on Thursday (0300 GMT). It will conclude at 5 pm. Out of the total population of 240 million, the number of eligible voters is 128 million.

(With inputs from agencies)

Terror outfit Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the twin blasts that shook Pakistan on Wednesday (February 7) just a day before the South Asian country is to hold national elections.

Terror outfit Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the twin blasts that shook Pakistan on Wednesday (February 7) just a day before the South Asian country is to hold national elections. The group took to Telegram to claim that IS fighters detonated the explosives "in the middle of an election gathering...in the Killa Saifullah area in Balochistan" province, not long before claiming authority for a similar attack in the Pishin district of the province. The fact that a million security officers were deployed across the nation did not stop perpetrators from carrying out the blasts. "The aim of today's blasts was to sabotage the election," said Jan Achakzai, caretaker information minister for Balochistan province, where the blasts happened. "Despite today's blasts, the election will take place tomorrow. People of Balochistan will come out tomorrow without any fear." The first blast involved an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that killed 16 people in the Pishin district of Balochistan. Those killed were standing outside the office of an independent candidate. The location is 50 kilometres from Quetta, the largest city in Balochistan province. The second blast took place in the city of Killa Saifullah which is about 120 kilometres east. This blast killed 12 people near the office of a candidate from the Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party. AFP reported that the candidate's office is located in the main bazaar of the city. Also Read | Pakistan: Troubled nation goes to polls after day of violence, roiled by vengeful politics, crisis-hit economy A total of 34 people were injured in both attacks, according to Achakzai. This is not the first attack against the (JUI-F) party. Last year in July, a suicide bomber attack at the party's rally claimed 44 lives. The rally was held in northwestern Pakistan. Gravitas | Pakistan: 1 dead and 3 injured in Karachi explosion × The third blast was reported from Karachi. As per reports in Pakistani media, one person was killed and a child sustained minor injuries in the blast. The blast took place in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. Campaigning for the Pakistan polls officially ended on Tuesday night. The voting is slated to begin at 8 am on Thursday (0300 GMT). It will conclude at 5 pm. Out of the total population of 240 million, the number of eligible voters is 128 million. (With inputs from agencies)

Islamic State claims responsibility for multiple blasts in Pakistan on election eve

Political personalities who are detained, including former prime minister Imran Khan, have cast their ballots via postal ballot from Adiala Jail. But Bushra Bibi, Mr. Khan's wife, was not allowed to vote since, following the postal voting process, she was found guilty and taken into custody.

Pakistan Elections 2024: Imran Khan casts ballot from Adiala jail

Perched on her weathered charpai, Naeem Kausir confesses timidly that she would prefer to vote in Pakistan's upcoming elections if only her husband would give her permission. Watch this video to know the whole story.

Pakistan elections 2024: Pakistani women barred from voting by their husbands

Donald Trump is lagging behind Biden in the money race. Legal expenses are draining Trump's campaign coffers...Can Trump's donors continue to finance his campaign & his lawyers?

US Elections 2024: Trump's legal fees by far the biggest cost of his campaign network

US Elections 2024: Can Trump's donors continue to finance his campaign & his lawyers?

A combination of victories and defeats characterise the nation's political landscape. As India's general elections get near, there is growing curiosity about the voter base and the preferences of the populace in the world's biggest democracy.

The presence of strong opposition in Parliament will depend on the results of forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. But INDIA, short for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, cobbled up by disparate regional and national parties to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appears to be tottering.

Recently, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the eastern state's 'Mahagathbandhan', or grand alliance, only to be sworn in again after cobbling up a quick coalition with the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that her party Trinamool Congress or TMC would fight elections in the eastern state alone, and would be more than capable of defeating the BJP. The INDIA alliance is severely harmed by the moves of these two parties, which are strong both politically and electorally.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-elections-2024-nitish-kumar-keeps-bihar-politics-on-hook-rjd-congress-react-to-crisis-684313">&nbsp;India Elections 2024: Nitish Kumar keeps Bihar politics on tenterhooks; RJD, Congress react to crisis</a>

Furthermore, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared that his party will contest all 90 assembly seats in northern state of Haryana on its own, while still contesting Lok Sabha polls as part of the INDIA bloc.

With the elections quickly approaching, all these developments have become quite unsettling for the INDIA alliance.

<h2>Why have these parties distanced themselves from the alliance?</h2>

Sanjay Kumar, a psephologist and professor at CSDS Delhi, says this has multiple causes.&nbsp;One is the resistance of the Congress, the key constituent of INDIA alliance, and the local parties to making concessions to each other in seat sharing.

There isn't a single political party evaluating the election race accurately, he said. There is no reasonable division of how many seats they ought to run for and how much they ought to contribute to the alliance. The goal of all political parties is to win as many seats as possible and this is causing a divide within the opposition, said Kumar.

If the alliance is not able to garner enough seats in parliament, will the opposition be able to offer any resistance in parliament? In turn, wouldn't that put democracy itself in jeopardy?

A vibrant parliament that facilitates fruitful debates and discussions is made possible by a significant opposition. It is impossible to question and discuss government policy in the absence of vigorous opposition resistance. It's critical for democracies to operate.

Watch:&nbsp;Election date announced for Indian parliament's upper house

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"In such circumstances, everything that occurs within the parliament passes without discussions or judgments, which is not only a danger but also not a healthy sign for the functioning of the democracy," Kumar said, adding, "the alliance will still exist, but its electoral power will decline." &nbsp;

The ruling BJP will undoubtedly profit from such circumstances. In 2014 and 2019, the party won general elections back to back.

The Modi government will achieve&nbsp;a hat trick if it prevails once more in 2024.

Neerja Chowdhary, a veteran political commentator, calls this a very strong move for the BJP.

The BJP now has its government in Bihar, after Uttar Pradesh. "The entire 'Hindi heartland' comes under their control. The party is looking at reconstituting the NDA [National Democratic Alliance]; they are one by one trying to get their allies back. It looks as if Mr Modi will have his third term with a 2/3rd majority. They would like to be in power to pass legislation," Chowdhary noted.

<h2>Is there a way for the alliance to stick together?</h2>

Coming together of various parties might help in restoring democracy. &nbsp;

The Janata government that came into power after the 1976 emergency couldn’t manage to stay in power for more than 33 months, eventually leading to the return of Indira Gandhi, the Congress prime minister who imposed emergency. Yet, the Janata government left an important mark in the political history of India.

“The country needs to have an armed opposition, today we don't have it," noted Chowdhary.

"It may be very good for the BJP, but not for the democratic India,” she said, adding the opposition doesn’t seem to be serious.

Whether or not the INDIA alliance is all talk and no action will be decided after the election results come in.

To that extent, the elections will provide citizens with an opportunity to decide the future of the nation.

A combination of victories and defeats characterise the nation's political landscape. As India's general elections get near, there is growing curiosity about the voter base and the preferences of the populace in the world's biggest democracy.

A combination of victories and defeats characterise the nation's political landscape. As India's general elections get near, there is growing curiosity about the voter base and the preferences of the populace in the world's biggest democracy. The presence of strong opposition in Parliament will depend on the results of forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. But INDIA, short for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, cobbled up by disparate regional and national parties to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appears to be tottering. Recently, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the eastern state's 'Mahagathbandhan', or grand alliance, only to be sworn in again after cobbling up a quick coalition with the BJP. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that her party Trinamool Congress or TMC would fight elections in the eastern state alone, and would be more than capable of defeating the BJP. The INDIA alliance is severely harmed by the moves of these two parties, which are strong both politically and electorally. Also read: India Elections 2024: Nitish Kumar keeps Bihar politics on tenterhooks; RJD, Congress react to crisis Furthermore, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared that his party will contest all 90 assembly seats in northern state of Haryana on its own, while still contesting Lok Sabha polls as part of the INDIA bloc. With the elections quickly approaching, all these developments have become quite unsettling for the INDIA alliance. Why have these parties distanced themselves from the alliance? Sanjay Kumar, a psephologist and professor at CSDS Delhi, says this has multiple causes. One is the resistance of the Congress, the key constituent of INDIA alliance, and the local parties to making concessions to each other in seat sharing. There isn't a single political party evaluating the election race accurately, he said. There is no reasonable division of how many seats they ought to run for and how much they ought to contribute to the alliance. The goal of all political parties is to win as many seats as possible and this is causing a divide within the opposition, said Kumar. If the alliance is not able to garner enough seats in parliament, will the opposition be able to offer any resistance in parliament? In turn, wouldn't that put democracy itself in jeopardy? A vibrant parliament that facilitates fruitful debates and discussions is made possible by a significant opposition. It is impossible to question and discuss government policy in the absence of vigorous opposition resistance. It's critical for democracies to operate. Watch: Election date announced for Indian parliament's upper house "In such circumstances, everything that occurs within the parliament passes without discussions or judgments, which is not only a danger but also not a healthy sign for the functioning of the democracy," Kumar said, adding, "the alliance will still exist, but its electoral power will decline." The ruling BJP will undoubtedly profit from such circumstances. In 2014 and 2019, the party won general elections back to back. The Modi government will achieve a hat trick if it prevails once more in 2024. Neerja Chowdhary, a veteran political commentator, calls this a very strong move for the BJP. The BJP now has its government in Bihar, after Uttar Pradesh. "The entire 'Hindi heartland' comes under their control. The party is looking at reconstituting the NDA [National Democratic Alliance]; they are one by one trying to get their allies back. It looks as if Mr Modi will have his third term with a 2/3rd majority. They would like to be in power to pass legislation," Chowdhary noted. Is there a way for the alliance to stick together? Coming together of various parties might help in restoring democracy. The Janata government that came into power after the 1976 emergency couldn’t manage to stay in power for more than 33 months, eventually leading to the return of Indira Gandhi, the Congress prime minister who imposed emergency. Yet, the Janata government left an important mark in the political history of India. “The country needs to have an armed opposition, today we don't have it," noted Chowdhary. "It may be very good for the BJP, but not for the democratic India,” she said, adding the opposition doesn’t seem to be serious. Whether or not the INDIA alliance is all talk and no action will be decided after the election results come in. To that extent, the elections will provide citizens with an opportunity to decide the future of the nation.

India Election 2024: Is INDIA alliance a workable idea or just all talk?

Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Baijayant Jay Panda has been appointed election-in charge of Uttar Pradesh, party general secretary Vinod Tawde of Bihar and former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar of Kerala for the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May. 
BJP chief JP Nadda on Saturday appointed election in-charges and co-incharges for various states on Saturday.

According to a BJP release, former Tripura Chief Biplab Kumar Deb has been appointed election in-charge for Haryana. Surendra Singh Nagar will be co-in-charge of the state.

In Bihar, Deepak Prakash will assist Vinod Tawde as co-incharge.

Party leader Shrikant Sharma will be in charge of Himachal Pradesh and Sanjay Tandon will be the co-in-charge of the state.

Tarun Chugh and Laxmikant Bajpai have been made election in-charges of Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand respectively.

Radha Mohan Das Agarwal will be poll in-charge Karnataka and Sudhakar Reddy is the co-in-charge of Karnataka

Mangal Pandey has been appointed as election in-charge of West Bengal while Amit Malviya and Asha Lakra have been appointed as co-in-charges for the state.

The responsibility of the poll in charge for Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu has been given to Arvind Menon, and Mahendra Singh will be the poll in charge for Madhya Pradesh.

Satish Upadhyay will be co-incharge of Madhya Pradesh.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has been named election in-charge of the union territory of Chandigarh as also Punjab. Narinder Singh is the co-in-charge of Punjab.

Satya Kumar Y will be the election in charge of the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and for Daman and Diu it is Purnesh Modi. Dushyant Patel is the co-in-charge of Daman and Diu.

Ashish Sood has been appointed poll in-charge for Goa and Tarun Chugh for Ladakh.

Vijaypal Singh Tomar has been appointed as the election in-charge for Odisha and Nirmal Kumar Surana for Puducherry. Lata Usendi is co-in-charge of Odisha.

Dilip Kumar Jaiswal has been appointed election in-charge for Sikkim and Dushyant Kumar Gautam for Uttarakhand. 
&nbsp;

Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Baijayant Jay Panda has been appointed election-in charge of Uttar Pradesh, party general secretary Vinod Tawde of Bihar and former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar of Kerala for the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May.

Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Baijayant Jay Panda has been appointed election-in charge of Uttar Pradesh, party general secretary Vinod Tawde of Bihar and former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar of Kerala for the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May. BJP chief JP Nadda on Saturday appointed election in-charges and co-incharges for various states on Saturday. According to a BJP release, former Tripura Chief Biplab Kumar Deb has been appointed election in-charge for Haryana. Surendra Singh Nagar will be co-in-charge of the state. In Bihar, Deepak Prakash will assist Vinod Tawde as co-incharge. Party leader Shrikant Sharma will be in charge of Himachal Pradesh and Sanjay Tandon will be the co-in-charge of the state. Tarun Chugh and Laxmikant Bajpai have been made election in-charges of Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand respectively. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal will be poll in-charge Karnataka and Sudhakar Reddy is the co-in-charge of Karnataka Mangal Pandey has been appointed as election in-charge of West Bengal while Amit Malviya and Asha Lakra have been appointed as co-in-charges for the state. The responsibility of the poll in charge for Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu has been given to Arvind Menon, and Mahendra Singh will be the poll in charge for Madhya Pradesh. Satish Upadhyay will be co-incharge of Madhya Pradesh. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has been named election in-charge of the union territory of Chandigarh as also Punjab. Narinder Singh is the co-in-charge of Punjab. Satya Kumar Y will be the election in charge of the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and for Daman and Diu it is Purnesh Modi. Dushyant Patel is the co-in-charge of Daman and Diu. Ashish Sood has been appointed poll in-charge for Goa and Tarun Chugh for Ladakh. Vijaypal Singh Tomar has been appointed as the election in-charge for Odisha and Nirmal Kumar Surana for Puducherry. Lata Usendi is co-in-charge of Odisha. Dilip Kumar Jaiswal has been appointed election in-charge for Sikkim and Dushyant Kumar Gautam for Uttarakhand.

BJP appoints state election in-charges for Lok Sabha polls

More than 70 countries will hold nationwide elections of some sort in the year 2024.

India, US, UK, Bangladesh, Pakistan: 2024 the Biggest Election Year ever?

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