Is voter fraud a problem in the US?

Short answer: Proven voter fraud exists in the U.S., but the best available evidence shows it is rare and not widespread enough to alter national outcomes. It has, on occasion, affected very close local races.

What the research and official reviews show

•In-person voter impersonation (the kind photo ID laws target) is vanishingly rare: an academic review found 31 credible cases out of more than 1 billion ballots cast from 2000–2014.[1]

•Reviews of the 2020 election by journalists, courts, and officials found too little fraud to change results; the Associated Press reported there wasn’t enough fraud to tip the outcome, and then–Attorney General William Barr said DOJ found no evidence of widespread fraud.[2]

•Federal and state election-security officials said the 2020 election was the “most secure in American history,” noting the availability of paper records and audits.[3]

•Mail-ballot problems are also rare: one analysis of three all‑mail states found 372 possible cases (about 0.0025%) out of 14.6 million mail votes in 2016 and 2018.[4]

•A nonpartisan science-communication review summarizing academic studies concludes voter fraud in the U.S. is uncommon and usually isolated.[5]

Important nuance

•Fraud can matter in tight local contests. In 2018, North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District race was thrown out and rerun after officials uncovered a coordinated absentee‑ballot scheme.[6]

•There are documented, prosecuted cases (e.g., double voting, absentee or registration fraud) across decades; databases maintained by groups like the Heritage Foundation catalog these individual instances, but they remain a tiny fraction of overall votes cast.[7]

Bottom line

•Is voter fraud “a problem”? It’s not zero and is taken seriously by prosecutors and election officials. But the evidence indicates it is rare and typically not outcome‑determinative in statewide or national elections. Strong safeguards—paper ballots, signature checks, post‑election audits, and criminal penalties—help keep rates low.[3]

If you’re thinking about a specific election, state, or type of fraud (e.g., mail ballots vs. in‑person), tell me and I can dive into those details.

Citations (7)

1washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
A comprehensive investigation of voter impersonation finds 31 credible incidents out of one billion ballots cast - The Washington Post
Backs: “In-person voter impersonation (the kind photo ID laws target) is vanishingly rare: an academic review found 31 credible cases out of more than 1 billion ballots cast from 2000–2014.”
2ap.orgNews and mediaquality 0.69
Why American elections are so complicated — and secure | The Associated Press
Backs: “Reviews of the 2020 election by journalists, courts, and officials found too little fraud to change results; the Associated Press reported there wasn’t enough fraud to tip the outcome, and then–Attorney General William Barr said DOJ found no evidence of widespread fraud.”
3eac.govGovernment
Joint Statement from Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee | U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Backs: “Federal and state election-security officials said the 2020 election was the “most secure in American history,” noting the availability of paper records and audits.”
4washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
The truth about election fraud: It’s rare - The Washington Post
Backs: “Mail-ballot problems are also rare: one analysis of three all‑mail states found 372 possible cases (about 0.0025%) out of 14.6 million mail votes in 2016 and 2018.”
5sciline.orgNonprofits and think tanks
What research tells us about voter fraud - SciLine
Backs: “A nonpartisan science-communication review summarizing academic studies concludes voter fraud in the U.S. is uncommon and usually isolated.”
6ncsbe.govGovernment
State Board unanimously orders new election in 9th Congressional District | NCSBE
Backs: “In 2018, North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District race was thrown out and rerun after officials uncovered a coordinated absentee‑ballot scheme.”
7heritage.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Heritage Database | Election Fraud Map | The Heritage Foundation
Backs: “There are documented, prosecuted cases (e.g., double voting, absentee or registration fraud) across decades; databases maintained by groups like the Heritage Foundation catalog these individual instances, but they remain a tiny fraction of overall votes cast.”