Is voter fraud a problem in the US?

Short answer: Documented voter fraud in the U.S. exists, but it’s rare and not widespread. It has not been shown to alter statewide or national results, though isolated schemes can matter in very close local races.

A few data points for scale

•In the 2020 election, an Associated Press review across six battleground states found fewer than 475 potential fraud cases out of about 25.5 million ballots cast. That’s far too few to have changed outcomes.[1]

•Analyses of universal vote‑by‑mail states (CO, OR, WA) identified about 372 possible double‑voting or “deceased voter” cases out of roughly 14.6 million mail ballots in 2016 and 2018—about 0.0025%.[2]

•In‑person voter impersonation is exceptionally rare: one comprehensive review found 31 credible incidents out of more than 1 billion ballots cast from 2000–2014.[3]

What “does” happen

•There are proven cases each year—usually small‑scale—such as false registrations, isolated double voting, or absentee‑ballot tampering. A well‑known exception where fraud affected a result was North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in 2018, where the state ordered a new election after uncovering a coordinated absentee‑ballot scheme.[4]

•Noncitizen voting in federal elections is illegal under 18 U.S.C. § 611; when it occurs, authorities prosecute it.[5]

Safeguards that keep rates low

•U.S. elections are decentralized and use layered protections: voter list maintenance, signature checks for mail ballots, paper ballots/records, bipartisan processes, canvasses, and post‑election audits (including risk‑limiting audits) that can detect and correct problems.[6]

Bottom line: Voter fraud is not zero, but measured against hundreds of millions of votes cast, it is exceedingly rare. Strong, routine safeguards and targeted prosecutions help keep it that way. If you want, I can break this down by type (mail ballots, double voting, noncitizen cases) or by a specific state.

Citations (6)

1fortune.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
Investigation finds only 475 cases of potential voter fraud in battleground states won by Biden | Fortune
Backs: “In the 2020 election, an Associated Press review across six battleground states found fewer than 475 potential fraud cases out of about 25.5 million ballots cast. That’s far too few to have changed outcomes.”
2washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
Analysis of mail-in ballots finds just 0.0025% rate of possible voter fraud in five 2016, 2018 elections - The Washington Post
Backs: “Analyses of universal vote‑by‑mail states (CO, OR, WA) identified about 372 possible double‑voting or “deceased voter” cases out of roughly 14.6 million mail ballots in 2016 and 2018—about 0.0025%.”
3washingtonpost.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 is exceptionally rare: one comprehensive review found 31 credible incidents out of more than 1 billion ballots cast from 2000–2014.”
4ncsbe.govGovernment
State Board unanimously orders new election in 9th Congressional District | NCSBE
Backs: “A well‑known exception where fraud affected a result was North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in 2018, where the state ordered a new election after uncovering a coordinated absentee‑ballot scheme.”
5govinfo.govGovernment
U.S.C. Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Backs: “Noncitizen voting in federal elections is illegal under 18 U.S.C. § 611; when it occurs, authorities prosecute it.”
6eac.govGovernment
Are voting systems secure? | U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Backs: “U.S. elections are decentralized and use layered protections: voter list maintenance, signature checks for mail ballots, paper ballots/records, bipartisan processes, canvasses, and post‑election audits (including risk‑limiting audits) that can detect and correct problems.”