Semra Sevi
@semrasevi.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto
www.semrasevi.com
www.semrasevi.com
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.
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! 🥰
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.
Congrats, Alex!! I’m so happy for you!
August 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Congrats, Alex!! I’m so happy for you!
Why is reciprocity so weak in 🇨🇦?
Strong party discipline limits side deals even in the more flexible world of PMBs.
Our study, using a rare real-world lottery, shows:
Legislative support often reflects shared values, not traded favours.
Not all politics is transactional.
Strong party discipline limits side deals even in the more flexible world of PMBs.
Our study, using a rare real-world lottery, shows:
Legislative support often reflects shared values, not traded favours.
Not all politics is transactional.
July 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Why is reciprocity so weak in 🇨🇦?
Strong party discipline limits side deals even in the more flexible world of PMBs.
Our study, using a rare real-world lottery, shows:
Legislative support often reflects shared values, not traded favours.
Not all politics is transactional.
Strong party discipline limits side deals even in the more flexible world of PMBs.
Our study, using a rare real-world lottery, shows:
Legislative support often reflects shared values, not traded favours.
Not all politics is transactional.
So why second at all?
✅ Shared party
✅ Common values
✅ Constituency interests
In other words: homophily, not horse-trading.
Sometimes, MPs just support what they believe in, not because they expect payback.
✅ Shared party
✅ Common values
✅ Constituency interests
In other words: homophily, not horse-trading.
Sometimes, MPs just support what they believe in, not because they expect payback.
July 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
So why second at all?
✅ Shared party
✅ Common values
✅ Constituency interests
In other words: homophily, not horse-trading.
Sometimes, MPs just support what they believe in, not because they expect payback.
✅ Shared party
✅ Common values
✅ Constituency interests
In other words: homophily, not horse-trading.
Sometimes, MPs just support what they believe in, not because they expect payback.
Weak evidence for strategic seconding.
MPs with better lottery spots are slightly more likely to second others, and there's almost no evidence that favours are returned in future parliaments.
MPs with better lottery spots are slightly more likely to second others, and there's almost no evidence that favours are returned in future parliaments.
July 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Weak evidence for strategic seconding.
MPs with better lottery spots are slightly more likely to second others, and there's almost no evidence that favours are returned in future parliaments.
MPs with better lottery spots are slightly more likely to second others, and there's almost no evidence that favours are returned in future parliaments.
We tested two things:
🔁 Do MPs second each other within the same parliament?
🔄 Do they return favors across different parliaments?
The results?
🔁 Do MPs second each other within the same parliament?
🔄 Do they return favors across different parliaments?
The results?
July 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
We tested two things:
🔁 Do MPs second each other within the same parliament?
🔄 Do they return favors across different parliaments?
The results?
🔁 Do MPs second each other within the same parliament?
🔄 Do they return favors across different parliaments?
The results?