CCIJ Launches Election Watch, an AI Tool to Strengthen Election Accountability 

ElectionWatch help journalists, researchers, and civic groups identify election-related misinformation narratives –  Lowenstein

By: Aminah Salako – Adekunle 

The Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) has announced the launch of ElectionWatch, a new artificial intelligence-powered tool.

ElectionWatch help journalists, researchers, and civic groups identify election-related misinformation narratives and networks on social media platforms.

In a statement issued by the CCIJ Communications and Partnerships Manager, Fola Folayan, the Center’s Executive Director Jeff Kelly Lowenstein explained that the tool is built to support investigative reporting, fact checking, and accountability journalism before, during, and after elections.

“Elections sit at the heart of democracy, but there are also moments when misinformation and disinformation thrive with very negative effects on public trust.

“ElectionWatch is about giving journalists and watchdogs a practical, ethical AI tool that helps them see patterns faster and collaborate across newsrooms,” Lowenstein said.

He said the tool allows users to do deeper investigative work by identifying misinformation narratives, actors and networks, as it was developed by CCIJ with a strong emphasis on transparency, responsible AI use, and newsroom driven design.

Also, CCIJ’s Product Manager, Nelly Kalu said ElectionWatch responds directly to challenges journalists face during election cycles: “We built the tool we wish we had during our investigation into Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections.

Kalu maintained that reporters and editors work under pressure during election cycles, which requires speed, accuracy, and context without sacrificing ethics.

“ElectionWatch is designed to fit into real newsroom workflows and support collaborative investigations, especially in the Global South”, he emphasized.

The CCIJ Project Manager stressed that the Center plans to roll out ElectionWatch through a series of virtual demonstrations, newsroom training, and partnerships with journalism and civic technology organizations. Early adopters will include investigative newsrooms, fact checking groups, and election observers working across Africa and beyond.

“It is part of CCIJ’s broader mission of developing innovative tools and collaborative models that advance investigative journalism, accountability, and democratic participation worldwide,” he stated.

Produced with support from Google’s Journalism AI Challenge, ElectionWatch brings together data analysis, AI-assisted monitoring, and collaborative workflows to strengthen election coverage.