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Extensive research reveals that fraud is very rare. Yet repeated, false allegations of fraud can make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to participate in elections.

The Myth of Voter Fraud | Brennan Center for Justice Skip Navigation Search Search Suggested Results See All Search Results EnglishEspañol Close Antes de cambiar... Esta página no está disponible en español ¿Le gustaría continuar en la página de inicio de Brennan Center en español? Regresar al Brennan Center en inglés Continuar al Brennan Center en español Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram $ Donate Amount Donate Type One Time Monthly Donate More ways to give Main navigation Issues The Brennan Center works to reform and defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice. Ensure Every American Can Vote Defend Our Elections Gerrymandering & Fair Representation Reform Money in Politics Strengthen Our Courts End Mass Incarceration Protect Liberty & Security Bolster Checks & Balances Advance Constitutional Change See All Issues Our Work The Brennan Center crafts innovative policies and fights for them in Congress and the courts. News & Analysis Research & Reports Policy Solutions Court Cases Series: Abortion Rights Series: Punitive Excess Series: Second Amendment See All Our Work Experts Get Involved The Brennan Center works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free. Here’s how you can help. Support Our Work Get Informed Attend an Event Partner With Us Podcast See All Get Involved About The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute, striving to uphold the values of democracy. 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Esta página no está disponible en español ¿Le gustaría continuar en la página de inicio de Brennan Center en español? Regresar al Brennan Center en inglés Continuar al Brennan Center en español Close Brennan Center for Justice logo Main navigation sticky Issues The Brennan Center works to reform and defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice. Ensure Every American Can Vote Defend Our Elections Gerrymandering & Fair Representation Reform Money in Politics Strengthen Our Courts End Mass Incarceration Protect Liberty & Security Bolster Checks & Balances Advance Constitutional Change See All Issues Our Work The Brennan Center crafts innovative policies and fights for them in Congress and the courts. News & Analysis Research & Reports Policy Solutions Court Cases Series: Abortion Rights Series: Punitive Excess Series: Second Amendment See All Our Work Experts Get Involved The Brennan Center works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free. Here’s how you can help. Support Our Work Get Informed Attend an Event Partner With Us Podcast See All Get Involved About The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute, striving to uphold the values of democracy. 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Yet repeated, false allegations of fraud can make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to participate in elections. Ensure Every American Can Vote Vote Suppression Doug Chayka Ensure Every American Can Vote Vote Suppression Overview Our Experts Work & Resources Overview It is important to protect the integrity of our elections. But we must be careful not to undermine free and fair access to the ballot in the name of preventing phantom voter fraud. Politicians at all levels of government have repeatedly, and falsely, claimed the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections were marred by large numbers of people voting illegally. However, extensive research reveals that fraud is very rare, voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent, and many instances of alleged fraud are, in fact, mistakes by voters or administrators. The same is true for mail ballots, which are secure and essential to holding a safe election amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Brennan Center’s seminal report The Truth About Voter Fraud conclusively demonstrated that most allegations of fraud turn out to be baseless and that most of the few remaining allegations reveal irregularities and other forms of election misconduct. Numerous other studies, including one commissioned by the Trump administration, have reached the same conclusion. Voter fraud is unacceptable, but we must find solutions that address actual problems instead of imposing policies that make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to participate in our democracy. Our Experts Wendy R. Weiser Vice President Democracy Michael Waldman President and CEO Office of the President Sean Morales-Doyle Director, Voting Rights Democracy Eliza Sweren-Becker Counsel Democracy Katie Friel Fellow Democracy Zachary Roth Fellow See all Experts Work & Resources Image Report 10 Voter Fraud Lies Debunked American elections are clean and trustworthy despite what President Trump and others claim. May 27, 2020 Max Feldman Policy Solution Election Integrity: A Pro-Voter Agenda February 1, 2017 Myrna Pérez Report Purges: A Growing Threat to the Right to Vote July 20, 2018 Kevin Morris, Myrna Pérez, Jonathan Brater , Christopher Deluzio Resource In Their Own Words: Officials Refuting False Claims of Voter Fraud April 13, 2017 Report Dirty Tricks: 9 Falsehoods that Could Undermine the 2020 Election July 30, 2020 Max Feldman Report Noncitizen Voting: The Missing Millions May 5, 2017 Douglas Keith, Myrna Pérez, Christopher Famighetti Report Heritage Fraud Database: An Assessment September 8, 2017 Report The Justice Department’s Voter Fraud Scandal: Lessons January 6, 2017 Wendy R. Weiser, Adam Gitlin Resource Disbanded: Trump’s “Voter Fraud” Commission July 1, 2018 Resource Resources on Voter Fraud Claims June 26, 2017 See all in Library Related Analysis & Opinion Image Analysis Election Denial on the Ballot A new report shows the broad reach of election denial among 2022 candidates for state and local offices that will run the 2024 elections. Michael Waldman May 24, 2022 Image Analysis The Election Police Are Coming States across the country are establishing or empowering law enforcement agencies to aggressively pursue rare instances of voter fraud. Michael Waldman March 22, 2022 Analysis The Push to Restrict Voting Rights Continues February 9, 2022 Michael Waldman Analysis Partisan Arizona Election ‘Audit’ Was Flawed from the Start September 27, 2021 Elizabeth Howard, Gowri Ramachandran Analysis We’re Suing Texas Over Its New Voter Suppression Law September 7, 2021 Sean Morales-Doyle More News & Analysis Stay up to date Informed citizens are our democracy’s best defense Main navigation Issues Ensure Every American Can Vote Defend Our Elections Gerrymandering & Fair Representation Reform Money in Politics Strengthen Our Courts End Mass Incarceration Protect Liberty & Security Bolster Checks & Balances Advance Constitutional Change Our Work News & Analysis Research & Reports Policy Solutions Court Cases Series: Abortion Rights Series: Punitive Excess Series: Second Amendment Experts Get Involved Support Our Work Get Informed Attend an Event Partner With Us Podcast About Mission & Impact History Programs Employment Staff Board of Directors Leadership Financial & Legal Information Contact Us Brennan Center & NYU School of Law Institutional Menu Footer Library Press Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram New York Office 120 Broadway Suite 1750 New York, NY 10271 Washington DC Office 1140 Connecticut Ave., NW 11th Floor, Suite 1150 Washington, D.C. 20036 © 2023 Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law Privacy Policy Accessibility