Is there evidence of large-scale voter fraud in U.S. elections?
Our take
Available evidence has not established that large-scale voter fraud has changed a certified federal outcome. Election crimes exist and get prosecuted, but isolated election offenses do not establish coordinated fraud.
Why we say this
FBI
Federal election offenses, including voter and ballot fraud, are investigated and charged.
CISA, 2020
The 2020 election was assessed as secure based on information available to election officials.
Same record, 2020
Public primary evidence has not shown large-scale fraud changing a certified federal outcome.
This is not a claim of absolute truth. Read the whole story for more context.
as of July 7, 2026
Where the claims stand
This story tracks evidence for claims that large-scale voter fraud has occurred in U.S. elections. The focus is on primary artifacts such as court filings, official election audits, government investigations, and documented prosecutions rather than commentary or political rhetoric.
We'll only notify you when something material changes.
Additional information
Status
as of July 7, 2026The topic remains politically contested, but the current evidence base is relatively stable. Numerous official investigations, audits, recounts, and court proceedings have examined allegations of widespread election fraud following recent federal elections. Individual cases of election-related offenses continue to be identified and prosecuted, while broader claims of fraud affecting election outcomes require primary evidence beyond isolated incidents.
Confidence — current state
Multiple categories of primary evidence — including court proceedings, state election certifications, audits, recounts, and official investigations — have examined claims of widespread voter fraud. These artifacts document isolated election offenses in some cases but do not, by themselves, establish coordinated fraud at a scale sufficient to change certified federal election outcomes.
This is our best read given the published evidence we have reviewed — not a claim of absolute truth.
Open questions
Will future investigations uncover previously unknown coordinated election fraud?
New primary evidence could materially change the current evidence state.
How frequently do documented election offenses occur across jurisdictions?
Understanding prevalence requires comprehensive datasets rather than isolated prosecutions.
What would change our mind
- Court findings supported by admissible evidence establishing coordinated fraud affecting certified election outcomes.
- Official investigations documenting systemic fraudulent voting at a scale capable of changing certified results.
- Auditable datasets independently corroborating widespread fraudulent ballots across multiple jurisdictions.
Claims & evidence
Each claim is tracked separately — not a single verdict.Election-related offenses have been documented and prosecuted in the United States.
Evidence basis- Election Crimes and Security
The FBI describes federal election offenses, including voter and ballot fraud, and its role investigating election crimes.
No evidence has established that large-scale voter fraud has changed the outcome of a certified U.S. federal election.
Evidence basis- Joint Statement from the Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council & the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees
Official statement addressing the security and integrity of the 2020 election based on information available to election officials.
- June 23, 2021Report on the November 2020 Election in Michigan
State legislative investigation found no evidence of widespread fraud that would have changed Michigan's certified 2020 presidential result.
- March 10, 2021Vote Recounts and Election Contests in Battleground States
Survey of 2020 battleground-state recounts and election contests found that none of the lawsuits or contests succeeded, and none of the recounts or audits changed the election results.
- February 23, 2021Auditing Elections Equipment In Maricopa County
Independent Voting System Testing Laboratory audits found certified software, no malicious software or hardware, no internet connectivity, and no evidence of vote switching on Maricopa County's 2020 tabulation equipment.
What this doesn’t establish
Claims commonly associated with this story that the available evidence does not establish. Confirming a narrow fact here is not confirmation of the broader narrative around it. As such, these claims are not included in the claims bar above.
Documented individual election offenses do not, by themselves, establish widespread voter fraud.
Evidence basis- Election Crimes and Security
The FBI catalogs categories of federal election offenses but does not, by itself, quantify nationwide prevalence of voter fraud.
Large-scale voter fraud occurs in every U.S. federal election.
Evidence basis- Election Administration and Voting Survey
National election administration data do not, by themselves, establish this broader claim. Additional primary evidence would be required.
How we got here
4 updates · append-onlyMichigan Senate Oversight report on 2020 election
A GOP-led Michigan Senate committee reported no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud that would have changed the certified result.
What changed
- State legislative review: Investigation ongoing Michigan Senate Oversight report published
Stanford-MIT survey of 2020 battleground recounts and contests
The Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project surveyed recounts and election contests in battleground states and reported that none of the lawsuits or contests succeeded, and none of the recounts or audits changed the election results.
What changed
- Battleground recount and contest survey: State recounts and contests underway Healthy Elections final report published
Maricopa County forensic audit of 2020 tabulation equipment
Two federally certified Voting System Testing Laboratories reported that Maricopa County's election equipment used certified software, showed no malicious software or hardware, had no internet connectivity, and showed no evidence of vote switching.
What changed
- County forensic equipment audit: Audit authorized Pro V&V and SLI Compliance findings released
CISA joint statement on 2020 election integrity
Federal and election-sector officials issued a joint statement that no evidence supported claims of compromised ballots or altered vote totals at scale.
What changed
- Federal election integrity statement: Post-election allegations circulating CISA joint statement published
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Confidence last reviewed July 7, 2026. Updates are append-only; nothing here is edited silently.
We'll only notify you when something material changes.