Semra Sevi
@semrasevi.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto
www.semrasevi.com
www.semrasevi.com
Reposted by Semra Sevi
🚨New WP: Can an AI voter guide (grounded in information from a nonpartisan, fact-checked source) help voters’ decision making? 🚨
We built and evaluated an LLM-based chatbot that provided voting info in CA & TX (N=2,474) right before the 2024 election. 🧵👇
We built and evaluated an LLM-based chatbot that provided voting info in CA & TX (N=2,474) right before the 2024 election. 🧵👇
February 9, 2026 at 8:56 PM
🚨New WP: Can an AI voter guide (grounded in information from a nonpartisan, fact-checked source) help voters’ decision making? 🚨
We built and evaluated an LLM-based chatbot that provided voting info in CA & TX (N=2,474) right before the 2024 election. 🧵👇
We built and evaluated an LLM-based chatbot that provided voting info in CA & TX (N=2,474) right before the 2024 election. 🧵👇
Reposted by Semra Sevi
🎺 Call for proposals 🎺
1️⃣ replicate an existing experiment
2️⃣ run a novel experiment
on repdata.com
3️⃣ coauthor with Mary McGrath and me to meta-analyze the replications and existing studies
4️⃣ publish your study
details: alexandercoppock.com/replication_...
applications open Feb 1
please repost!
1️⃣ replicate an existing experiment
2️⃣ run a novel experiment
on repdata.com
3️⃣ coauthor with Mary McGrath and me to meta-analyze the replications and existing studies
4️⃣ publish your study
details: alexandercoppock.com/replication_...
applications open Feb 1
please repost!
January 27, 2026 at 10:16 PM
🎺 Call for proposals 🎺
1️⃣ replicate an existing experiment
2️⃣ run a novel experiment
on repdata.com
3️⃣ coauthor with Mary McGrath and me to meta-analyze the replications and existing studies
4️⃣ publish your study
details: alexandercoppock.com/replication_...
applications open Feb 1
please repost!
1️⃣ replicate an existing experiment
2️⃣ run a novel experiment
on repdata.com
3️⃣ coauthor with Mary McGrath and me to meta-analyze the replications and existing studies
4️⃣ publish your study
details: alexandercoppock.com/replication_...
applications open Feb 1
please repost!
Reposted by Semra Sevi
This paper was a blast to work on. The challenge: present party positions across many issues, in real time, using language voters actually use. 🧵 on why we went with a more involved retrieval-based approach and where I think these tools are headed.
🚨Excited to share our new paper published in PNAS (joint with @yamilrvelez.bsky.social and Don Green)! AI can enhance political knowledge and provide balanced information about politics with proper guardrails and vetted sources (e.g., party platforms).
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
December 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This paper was a blast to work on. The challenge: present party positions across many issues, in real time, using language voters actually use. 🧵 on why we went with a more involved retrieval-based approach and where I think these tools are headed.
Reposted by Semra Sevi
An AI Voter bot improves knowledge about politics
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
An AI Voter bot improves knowledge about politics
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Whether AI is ultimately used for good or ill largely depends on how govts, campaigns, and civil society orgs navigate this technological transformation. We hope our work spurs more innovation in building tools that expand access to democracy.
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Whether AI is ultimately used for good or ill largely depends on how govts, campaigns, and civil society orgs navigate this technological transformation. We hope our work spurs more innovation in building tools that expand access to democracy.
Last week, Science and Nature published two articles highlighting the potential for AI chatbots to persuade and manipulate voters. We take a different approach: using AI to make political information more accessible.
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Last week, Science and Nature published two articles highlighting the potential for AI chatbots to persuade and manipulate voters. We take a different approach: using AI to make political information more accessible.
We discuss the potential for future interventions that might strengthen the alignment between issues and partisan affiliation.
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
We discuss the potential for future interventions that might strengthen the alignment between issues and partisan affiliation.
Despite these knowledge gains, we observed little evidence of voters shifting toward the more proximate party, suggesting that issue proximity may not figure as prominently in the partisan attachments of young voters.
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Despite these knowledge gains, we observed little evidence of voters shifting toward the more proximate party, suggesting that issue proximity may not figure as prominently in the partisan attachments of young voters.
Across three experiments in the US, we found that VAA Bot enhanced knowledge of party stances on voters’ core issues by ~13 percentage points, with smaller spillovers on general issue knowledge (~4pp).
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Across three experiments in the US, we found that VAA Bot enhanced knowledge of party stances on voters’ core issues by ~13 percentage points, with smaller spillovers on general issue knowledge (~4pp).
We designed a chatbot-based voting advice application – VAA Bot – to provide young voters with verified information drawn from party platforms and official sources.
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
We designed a chatbot-based voting advice application – VAA Bot – to provide young voters with verified information drawn from party platforms and official sources.
🚨Excited to share our new paper published in PNAS (joint with @yamilrvelez.bsky.social and Don Green)! AI can enhance political knowledge and provide balanced information about politics with proper guardrails and vetted sources (e.g., party platforms).
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
🚨Excited to share our new paper published in PNAS (joint with @yamilrvelez.bsky.social and Don Green)! AI can enhance political knowledge and provide balanced information about politics with proper guardrails and vetted sources (e.g., party platforms).
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
It’s true, the paparazzi (aka my mom) won’t stop calling! 🥰
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
It’s true, the paparazzi (aka my mom) won’t stop calling! 🥰
Quite a 24 hours in Canadian Politics, two Conservatives out (one to the Liberals, one gone altogether), a new Budget on the table, and my debut on Power & Politics! Nothing beats watching your research come to life.
Full interview here: gem.cbc.ca/power-politics
#cdnpoli
Full interview here: gem.cbc.ca/power-politics
#cdnpoli
November 8, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Quite a 24 hours in Canadian Politics, two Conservatives out (one to the Liberals, one gone altogether), a new Budget on the table, and my debut on Power & Politics! Nothing beats watching your research come to life.
Full interview here: gem.cbc.ca/power-politics
#cdnpoli
Full interview here: gem.cbc.ca/power-politics
#cdnpoli
Our study of every election since 1867 shows party switchers in Canada once thrived, but now they face steep losses. Here is a summary of our results: policyoptions.irpp.org/2018/09/rese... #cdnpoli
November 5, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Our study of every election since 1867 shows party switchers in Canada once thrived, but now they face steep losses. Here is a summary of our results: policyoptions.irpp.org/2018/09/rese... #cdnpoli
Reposted by Semra Sevi
@utoronto.ca, do better! The Uni is excluding recent hires from cost-of-living adjustments that an arbitrator decided ALL faculty/librarians deserve. This harms junior colleagues struggling w/ inflation: we’ve organized a petition demanding @utoronto.ca change course. Spread the word! www.utfa.org
University of Toronto Faculty Association
The University of Toronto Faculty Association exists to protect and advance the well being of the faculty, librarians and research associates of the University of Toronto, the University of St. Michae...
www.utfa.org
October 15, 2025 at 10:39 PM
@utoronto.ca, do better! The Uni is excluding recent hires from cost-of-living adjustments that an arbitrator decided ALL faculty/librarians deserve. This harms junior colleagues struggling w/ inflation: we’ve organized a petition demanding @utoronto.ca change course. Spread the word! www.utfa.org
Reposted by Semra Sevi
Which Canadian MPs are on Bluesky and what do they post?
My new paper w/ @rohanalexander.bsky.social in @cjps-rcsp.bsky.social unpacks these questions, finding MPs
use it like Twitter to discuss policy, the Ottawa bubble & constituency
Read more: doi.org/10.1017/S000...
#polsky #commsky #cdnpoli
My new paper w/ @rohanalexander.bsky.social in @cjps-rcsp.bsky.social unpacks these questions, finding MPs
use it like Twitter to discuss policy, the Ottawa bubble & constituency
Read more: doi.org/10.1017/S000...
#polsky #commsky #cdnpoli
September 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Which Canadian MPs are on Bluesky and what do they post?
My new paper w/ @rohanalexander.bsky.social in @cjps-rcsp.bsky.social unpacks these questions, finding MPs
use it like Twitter to discuss policy, the Ottawa bubble & constituency
Read more: doi.org/10.1017/S000...
#polsky #commsky #cdnpoli
My new paper w/ @rohanalexander.bsky.social in @cjps-rcsp.bsky.social unpacks these questions, finding MPs
use it like Twitter to discuss policy, the Ottawa bubble & constituency
Read more: doi.org/10.1017/S000...
#polsky #commsky #cdnpoli
Congrats! Can't wait to read this.
September 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Congrats! Can't wait to read this.
Very cool! Looking forward to read these. The last one is intriguing 😉
August 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Very cool! Looking forward to read these. The last one is intriguing 😉
Thanks. Republicans appear more biased, but that doesn't mean they're more likely to hide it. We didn't measure overt bias.
August 16, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Thanks. Republicans appear more biased, but that doesn't mean they're more likely to hide it. We didn't measure overt bias.
Thanks! Would love to hear more about what you're doing with list experiments.
August 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Thanks! Would love to hear more about what you're doing with list experiments.
🚨NEW STUDY: Do Americans support a woman president? Our list experiment during the 2024 election, when @kamalaharris.com was on the ballot, reveals hidden bias, and it's more widespread than you'd expect.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Do Voters Support a Female President? Evidence from a List Experiment - Semra Sevi, Can Mekik, 2025
Public opinion polls indicate that a significant portion of the American public would be willing to vote for a qualified female presidential candidate. However,...
journals.sagepub.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🚨NEW STUDY: Do Americans support a woman president? Our list experiment during the 2024 election, when @kamalaharris.com was on the ballot, reveals hidden bias, and it's more widespread than you'd expect.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Congrats, Alex!! I’m so happy for you!
August 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Congrats, Alex!! I’m so happy for you!
Reposted by Semra Sevi
🪃Do legislators trade proposals?
➡️Leveraging a lottery in the Canadian Parliament, @semrasevi.bsky.social & D.P. Green find little evidence MPs second motions to gain favor. Support seems driven by shared interests, not quid pro quo www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
➡️Leveraging a lottery in the Canadian Parliament, @semrasevi.bsky.social & D.P. Green find little evidence MPs second motions to gain favor. Support seems driven by shared interests, not quid pro quo www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
July 21, 2025 at 10:57 AM
🪃Do legislators trade proposals?
➡️Leveraging a lottery in the Canadian Parliament, @semrasevi.bsky.social & D.P. Green find little evidence MPs second motions to gain favor. Support seems driven by shared interests, not quid pro quo www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
➡️Leveraging a lottery in the Canadian Parliament, @semrasevi.bsky.social & D.P. Green find little evidence MPs second motions to gain favor. Support seems driven by shared interests, not quid pro quo www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView