Is voter fraud a problem in the US?

Short answer: Documented voter fraud in the U.S. is rare and typically isolated. It has occasionally affected very close local races, but reviews, audits, and courts have found no evidence of widespread fraud altering recent national outcomes.

What the data and record show

•Scale: An Associated Press review found fewer than 475 potential fraud cases across six battleground states in 2020—far too few to change results among 25+ million ballots cast there. Courts rejected nearly all post‑election lawsuits for lack of credible evidence.[1]

•It does occur: A conservative-leaning tracker (Heritage) lists roughly 1,500–1,600 “proven” cases spanning multiple decades nationwide—evidence that fraud happens, but also that it is infrequent relative to the hundreds of millions of ballots cast.[2]

•When it matters locally: Authorities have ordered new elections in a few close contests—for example, North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District (2018) due to an absentee‑ballot scheme, and Paterson, New Jersey’s 2020 city‑council race due to mail‑ballot tampering.[3]

•Safeguards: Nearly all jurisdictions now use voting systems with a voter‑verifiable paper record, enabling recounts and audits; seven states require risk‑limiting audits and others permit or pilot them.[4]

•Bottom line from research: Academic and nonpartisan analyses consistently find voter fraud— including in‑person impersonation and noncitizen voting— to be extremely rare; alleged “waves” of fraud are usually traceable to error, misunderstanding, or isolated misconduct.[5]

If you’d like, tell me your state and I can summarize recent cases, safeguards, and how to report suspected election crimes where you vote.

Citations (5)

1pbs.orgNews and mediaquality 0.87
AP review finds far too little vote fraud to tip 2020 election to Trump | PBS News
Backs: “Courts rejected nearly all post‑election lawsuits for lack of credible evidence.”
2heritage.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Heritage Releases Updated Election Fraud Database, Featuring New Fraud Map | The Heritage Foundation
Backs: “A conservative-leaning tracker (Heritage) lists roughly 1,500–1,600 “proven” cases spanning multiple decades nationwide—evidence that fraud happens, but also that it is infrequent relative to the hundreds of millions of ballots cast.”
3ncsbe.govGovernment
State Board unanimously orders new election in 9th Congressional District | NCSBE
Backs: “Authorities have ordered new elections in a few close contests—for example, North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District (2018) due to an absentee‑ballot scheme, and Paterson, New Jersey’s 2020 city‑council race due to mail‑ballot tampering.”
4eac.govGovernment
U.S. Election Assistance Commission Releases 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) Report | U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Backs: “Nearly all jurisdictions now use voting systems with a voter‑verifiable paper record, enabling recounts and audits; seven states require risk‑limiting audits and others permit or pilot them.”
5brennancenter.orgNonprofits and think tanks
The Myth of Voter Fraud | Brennan Center for Justice
Backs: “Academic and nonpartisan analyses consistently find voter fraud— including in‑person impersonation and noncitizen voting— to be extremely rare; alleged “waves” of fraud are usually traceable to error, misunderstanding, or isolated misconduct.”