Notes: Last updated October 31, 2024. The Election Fraud Map presents a sampling of recent proven instances of election fraud from across the U.S. The map was first published in 2017.
Types of Cases
Criminal Conviction
Any case that results in a defendant entering a plea of guilty or no contest, or being found guilty in court of election-related offenses.
Judicial Finding
A finding by a court of law that fraud occurred in an election, including judicial orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.
Civil Penalty
Any civil case resulting in fines or other penalties imposed for a violation of election laws.
Official Finding
A finding by a government body that fraud occurred in an election, including orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.
Diversion Program
Any criminal case in which a judge directs a defendant into a pre-trial diversion program, or stays or defers adjudication with the understanding that the conviction will be cleared upon completion of the program.
Types of Voter Fraud
Fraudulent Use of Absentee Ballots
Requesting absentee ballots and voting without the knowledge of the actual voter; or obtaining the absentee ballot from a voter and either filling it in directly and forging the voter’s signature or illegally telling the voter who to vote for.
Ineligible Voting
Illegal registration and voting by individuals who are not eligible to vote. This includes the following:
- Deceased Voter
- Felon Voter
- Minor Voter
- Alien Voter (non-citizen)
- Non-Resident Voter
Impersonation Fraud at the Polls
Voting in the name of other legitimate voters and voters who have died, moved away, or lost their right to vote because they are felons, but remain registered.
Buying Votes
Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.
Ballot Petition Fraud
Forging the signatures of registered voters on the ballot petitions that must be filed with election officials in some states for a candidate or issue to be listed on the official ballot.
Duplicate Voting
Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one jurisdiction or state.
False Registrations
Voting under fraudulent voter registrations that either use a phony name and a real or fake address or claim residence in a particular jurisdiction where the registered voter does not actually live and is not entitled to vote.
Altering the Vote Count
Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.
Illegal “Assistance” at the Polls
Forcing or intimidating voters—particularly the elderly, disabled, illiterate, and those for whom English is a second language—to vote for particular candidates while supposedly providing them with “assistance.”