Montana Experts Warn Voters on Flood of Misleading Election Ads

Political advertisements are saturating social media feeds across Montana as Election Day approaches, creating a crowded information environment for voters. The volume of messaging has increased sharply, prompting local experts to urge caution regarding the accuracy of the claims being broadcast.

Paul Pope, a political science professor at Montana State University Billings, explained that much of this advertising comes from political action committees. These independent groups pool funds from individuals, corporations, and unions to pay for ads and mailers. Pope noted that candidates or parties often launch these campaigns when they perceive themselves as trailing in the polls.

"They think they're losing or they're behind in the polls," Pope said. "They get desperate and so they start saying really nasty things out there." He warned that such ads frequently rely on extreme, emotionally charged language to bypass critical scrutiny.

Laura Haacke, the security awareness program manager for CyberMontana, added that artificial intelligence complicates the fact-checking process. She explained that AI generates misinformation based on the data it is given, requiring users to seek independent confirmation. "Look for independent confirmation. Big news stories will have more than one outlet sending that information out," Haacke said.

The 2026 midterm cycle is expected to set a financial record. OpenSecrets projects total spending will reach $11.9 billion, making it the most expensive midterm cycle in history. Pope stated, "This is going to be one for the record books in terms of spending," and predicted high voter turnout despite the noise.

Haacke called for personal accountability in verifying information. "I would love to see people taking responsibility for this. It is so important. It's the only way we are going to cut down on this fake news and scams out there," she said.