Montgomery County, Pennsylvania – In a move aimed at strengthening voter access and combating misinformation, the county’s Board of Elections has rolled out an artificial‑intelligence chatbot named “MO.” The tool is available 24/7 on the county’s voter‑services website and can respond to questions in over 70 languages, ranging from English and Spanish to Vietnamese, Arabic and many others.
How the chatbot works
MO is designed to field routine inquiries about polling locations, mail‑in ballot procedures, ballot‑mapping tools and replacement‑ballot requests. It does not offer political endorsements or tell voters which candidates to support; its sole purpose is to provide accurate, nonpartisan election information.
County Commissioner Neil Makhija explained that the election office handles roughly 1,000 phone calls each day with a staff of more than 30 people. “There is so much misinformation out there about elections that it’s important for people to be able to get fast and accurate information from a source they trust, in this case, our County Board of Elections,” Makhija said. “That’s why we’re doing this: to make sure we get good information out there to everyone who needs it.”
Why a multilingual solution matters
Pennsylvania’s diverse communities include sizable immigrant populations who may not be fluent in English. By offering answers in dozens of languages, MO helps ensure that language barriers do not keep eligible voters from understanding how to cast their ballots safely and legally. The chatbot’s instant responses also reduce wait times for callers, allowing staff to focus on more complex issues that require human assistance.
Local impact and future plans
County officials see the chatbot as a practical tool for the upcoming primary and general elections. “Our goal is to make the voting process as transparent and accessible as possible,” said Makhija. “When voters can quickly verify where to vote or how to request a mail‑in ballot, confidence in the electoral system grows.”
The technology was selected after a review of several vendors and was chosen for its ease of integration with the county’s existing website. County IT staff will monitor usage statistics and gather feedback from residents to refine the chatbot’s responses and expand language coverage where needed.
Community response
Local civic groups have praised the initiative, noting that it aligns with the county’s long‑standing commitment to voter education. “Providing reliable information in a language people understand is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy,” said Maria Alvarez, director of the Montgomery County Civic Alliance. “We appreciate the county’s proactive approach to keeping voters informed.”
While the chatbot is a new tool, it joins a broader effort by Pennsylvania’s election officials to modernize voter services, including online voter‑registration portals and expanded early‑voting sites.
How to use MO
Residents can access the chatbot by visiting the Montgomery County voter‑services website and clicking the “Ask MO” button. After selecting their preferred language, users type or speak their question and receive an immediate answer. The interface also provides links to official forms and maps for further reference.
County officials encourage anyone with election‑related questions—whether about polling locations, absentee‑ballot deadlines or how to request a replacement ballot—to try the chatbot first, reserving phone lines for more urgent or complex matters.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Montgomery County hopes that MO will help reduce confusion, increase participation and reinforce the integrity of the voting process for all Pennsylvanians.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
