Midterm Voters Face a New Wave of Deepfakes and Scams

Voters heading into the 2026 U.S. midterms, which are set for November 3, are being urged to watch for two overlapping threats: political deepfakes and election-related scams. Both rely on the same basic trick, making a message look like it comes from a trusted source, whether that is a candidate, a state election office or a familiar news outlet.

Synthetic audio and video have become cheap and easy to produce. The clearest warning sign came in early 2024, when a robocall in New Hampshire used an AI-generated imitation of President Joe Biden's voice to discourage people from voting in the state's primary. Similar tools can now fabricate a candidate's remarks or a fake news clip in minutes, and the material often spreads on social platforms before anyone checks it.

Scams tend to be less dramatic but more common. Expect fake donation pages, phishing emails that imitate campaign or government websites, and text messages with false voting dates, wrong polling locations or urgent requests for personal details. Some scams play on fear, claiming a voter's registration is invalid or that a fine is due.

The practical advice is simple. Confirm anything surprising through an official channel before sharing it: a candidate's verified account, your state or county election website, or a known news outlet. Be wary of audio or video that seems to create urgency or shows a politician saying something out of character. Never send payment or personal information in response to an unsolicited message about voting. If something looks wrong, report it to your state election office.