Voter fraud does occur on occasion, and when it does, it often receives significant public attention. Instances of fraud are typically detected and prosecuted.
The United States has a complex, multi-layered election process with numerous safeguards, making voter fraud both detectable and relatively rare, according to election administrators from both major political parties.
Decentralized US elections
With thousands of independent voting jurisdictions across the nation, American elections are highly decentralized. This structure makes it nearly impossible to orchestrate a large-scale operation that could alter the outcome of a presidential race or most other elections.
Former Kentucky Secretary of State and chair of the advisory board for the Secure Elections Project, Trey Grayson, noted that a flawless election system may not exist. However, he pointed out that U.S. election systems offer a high level of reliability and that voters should feel confident in the system’s integrity.
What prevents people from committing voter fraud?
Acts of fraud such as voting multiple times, tampering with ballots, providing false residency information, or voting on behalf of another individual are illegal and carry severe penalties, including large fines and imprisonment. Non-U.S. citizens who violate election laws also risk deportation.
For those who might still attempt fraud, U.S. election systems are designed with layers of protections and transparency to deter such actions.
Voter fraud attempts
Most states require or request identification for in-person voting. Where ID is not mandatory, alternative verification steps are in place, such as stating one’s name and address, signing a poll book, or completing an affidavit.
Attempts to vote on behalf of someone recently deceased can be flagged when election officials update voter records with death notices, explained Gail Pellerin, a California Assembly member and former election official in Santa Cruz County. Individuals impersonating others may also risk detection if poll workers recognize them or if the real voter attempts to vote later.
Protections for absentee voting
For absentee ballots, each state enforces its own verification procedures, but all require a voter’s signature. Many states add further safeguards, such as comparing the signature with records, requiring notarization, or a witness signature.
These precautions mean that even if a ballot mistakenly arrives at a former address and is mailed back by the current occupant, security measures can alert officials to any irregularities.
Federal laws on voting
Many states now offer tracking tools that allow voters to monitor the status of their absentee ballots—when they’re sent out, received, and counted—adding an extra layer of security.
Federal law mandates regular maintenance of voter lists. Officials fulfill this by cross-referencing state and federal databases and cooperating with other states to identify voters who have relocated.
Ballot drop boxes are also safeguarded by specific security measures, according to Tammy Patrick, the CEO of Programs at the National Association of Election Officials.
Read More: 2024 US Election Results: How To Track Accurate, Real-Time Official Election Results
