Election Deepfakes & Political AI Tracker: 2026 State-by-State

Over 20 states have enacted laws restricting political deepfakes, including Texas, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington, and Indiana. Most of these laws prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive synthetic media depicting candidates within a defined window before an election, typically 30 to 90 days. Several states also require disclosure labels on AI-generated political content regardless of timing. See the table above to filter by state and category.

Many states require clear and conspicuous labeling when political advertisements contain AI-generated or AI-altered content. Disclosure requirements typically mandate a text or audio statement indicating the content was created or substantially modified using artificial intelligence. Some states specify the exact wording, placement, and font size of the disclosure. California, for example, requires disclaimers on AI-generated election communications, while other states tie disclosure to broader synthetic media transparency rules.

The FCC has ruled that AI-generated voice calls are "artificial" voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), making them subject to the same restrictions as traditional robocalls. This means AI-generated voice calls require prior express consent and are effectively banned for unsolicited political robocalling. Several states have enacted additional legislation specifically targeting AI-generated voice or text communications during election periods, with penalties ranging from civil fines to criminal charges.