Feds use AI in Fulton County, Georgia to find fake ballot signatures

The FBI has explored using artificial intelligence to examine signatures on tens of thousands of mail-in ballots seized from Fulton County, Georgia, as the Trump administration continues its investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the 2020 election.

According to internal communications reviewed by ProPublica and an FBI technology specialist familiar with the efforts launched by the admin, the bureau considered using AI powered tools to compare the validity of signatures on ballot envelopes with signatures from voter registration records and other government documents.

The move comes as President Donald Trump and election integrity advocates continue raising concerns about the handling of mail-in ballots in Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that was instrumental in Trump narrowly losing Georgia to Joe Biden by 11,779 votes in 2020. Trump has repeatedly maintained that problems with signature verification and ballot procedures deserve deeper investigation.

In January, the FBI seized roughly 700 boxes of election materials from Fulton County, including about 150,000 mail-in ballots. The seizure followed years of pressure from conservatives who questioned whether election officials properly followed signature verification procedures, the outlet reported.

The FBI has also reportedly redirected approximately 260 analysts from field offices nationwide to assist with the Fulton County investigation. Their work includes reviewing voter records and examining whether individuals listed in election databases remain eligible voters.

However, the use of AI to analyze ballot signatures has raised questions among both election experts and forensic specialists. Critics of the technology argue that the analysis is not exact enough as signatures can transform over time due to age, health conditions, or differences in signing instruments.

There are some who view technology as an overall net positive.

"The technology is only as good as the process and the people using it," said David Gerber, senior vice president at signature technology company ParaScript.

The effort has also drawn pushback from some FBI employees who reportedly fear the over bearing political pressure could influence the investigation’s outcome. At the same time, supporters argue that reviewing election materials is necessary to maintain public confidence in election systems.

The Trump administration’s renewed review of Fulton County reflects ongoing Republican efforts to examine election procedures and strengthen voter verification requirements through channels such as the SAVE America Act.