Standing for election

Nomination papers, the deposit, the disqualification rules and the seat itself attach to a person. At the United Kingdom general election of 4 July 2024, an independent appeared on the Brighton Pavilion ballot under the name AI, Steve, campaigning through a voice avatar that put questions from constituents to a language model and reported what came back. The person who signed the papers, paid the deposit and would have taken the seat was Steve Endacott. The result was 179 votes, 0.3 percent, against 28,809 for the winner. Nothing in the episode moved the line. The avatar changed how the campaign spoke, not who was standing, and the returning officer had a person to declare. Being a candidate means remaining available afterwards to be held to what was promised, which is the same reason a machine does not hold office.