Is voter fraud a problem in the US?

Short answer: Voter fraud happens, but it’s rare and not shown to be widespread enough to change U.S. election outcomes.

What the evidence shows

•Reviews of recent elections consistently find very small numbers of cases. After the 2020 election, an Associated Press review in six closely contested states found fewer than 475 potential cases among 25+ million ballots—far too few to alter outcomes.[1]

•Academic and legal reviews likewise find extremely low incidence. For example, research compiled by the Brennan Center reports fraud rates between 0.00004% and 0.0009%, and only 31 credible in‑person impersonation cases out of over 1 billion ballots cast from 2000–2014.[2]

•Prosecutions do occur each year (e.g., a recent DOJ release charged five people tied to alleged illegal voting/registration), but the totals are tiny relative to turnout.[3]

•Even groups that track fraud cases to argue for stricter rules (e.g., Heritage Foundation) document hundreds of cases across many years—evidence that fraud exists, but also that it is not common at scale.[4]

Where it has mattered

•Isolated schemes have tainted close local races. North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District (2018) was rerun after officials found a coordinated absentee‑ballot operation. A Paterson, New Jersey, city council race (2020) was invalidated over mail‑ballot abuses and led to charges.[5]

Common claims

•Noncitizen voting in federal/state elections is illegal and shown by studies and official reviews to be extremely rare.[6]

Safeguards that limit fraud

•All 50 states now require some form of post‑election audit, and most jurisdictions use voter‑verifiable paper ballots; audits, chain‑of‑custody procedures, and equipment testing are standard practice.[7]

Bottom line: Voter fraud is a real but infrequent crime that officials investigate and prosecute. The best available evidence indicates it has not been a systemic problem capable of swinging recent U.S. national election results.[1]

If you want, I can pull data or examples specific to your state.

Citations (7)

1pbs.orgNews and mediaquality 0.87
AP review finds far too little vote fraud to tip 2020 election to Trump | PBS News
Backs: “After the 2020 election, an Associated Press review in six closely contested states found fewer than 475 potential cases among 25+ million ballots—far too few to alter outcomes.”
2brennancenter.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Debating Election Integrity | Brennan Center for Justice
Backs: “For example, research compiled by the Brennan Center reports fraud rates between 0.00004% and 0.0009%, and only 31 credible in‑person impersonation cases out of over 1 billion ballots cast from 2000–2014.”
3justice.govGovernment
Office of Public Affairs | Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registration in 2022 or 2024 Election | United States Department of Justice
Backs: “Prosecutions do occur each year (e.g., a recent DOJ release charged five people tied to alleged illegal voting/registration), but the totals are tiny relative to turnout.”
4heritage.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Heritage Database | Election Fraud Map: About the Election Fraud Map | The Heritage Foundation
Backs: “Even groups that track fraud cases to argue for stricter rules (e.g., Heritage Foundation) document hundreds of cases across many years—evidence that fraud exists, but also that it is not common at scale.”
5ncsbe.govGovernment
State Board unanimously orders new election in 9th Congressional District | NCSBE
Backs: “A Paterson, New Jersey, city council race (2020) was invalidated over mail‑ballot abuses and led to charges.”
6migrationpolicy.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Noncitizen Voting in U.S. Elections | Migration Policy Institute
Backs: “Noncitizen voting in federal/state elections is illegal and shown by studies and official reviews to be extremely rare.”
7ncsl.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Every State Has Now Enacted a Post-Election Audit Law -...
Backs: “All 50 states now require some form of post‑election audit, and most jurisdictions use voter‑verifiable paper ballots; audits, chain‑of‑custody procedures, and equipment testing are standard practice.”