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A new study finds in-person voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in the United States.
News21, a non-partisan project funded by the Carnegie and Knight foundations, conducted the study.
Researchers looked at the 2,068 reported cases of voter fraud since 2000 out of more than 600 million votes cast. The study found, "while fraud has occurred, the rate is infinitesimal, and in-person voter impersonation on Election Day, which prompted 37 state legislatures to enact or consider tough voter ID laws, is virtually non-existent."
Kansas is among the states to have enacted voter ID laws since 2008. Republican lawmakers in Topeka and elsewhere argue requiring people to show ID when registering and when voting is necessary to ensure the integrity of the election system.
Democrats and many civil rights groups disagree. They argue the voter ID laws are a veiled attempt to supress the vote. Opponent argue the laws unfairly target minorities, the elderly and college students.
The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University recently found 21 million eligible voters, or 11 percent of the U.S. population lack a government-issued ID.
The study also found (directly from report):
- In-person voter-impersonation fraud is rare. The database shows 207 cases of other types of fraud for every case of voter impersonation.
- There is more fraud in absentee ballots and voter registration than any other categories. The analysis shows 491 cases of absentee ballot fraud and 400 cases of registration fraud. A required photo ID at the polls would not have prevented these cases.
- Of reported election-fraud allegations in the database whose resolution could be determined, 46 percent resulted in acquittals, dropped charges or decisions not to bring charges.
- Felons or noncitizens sometimes register to vote or cast votes because they are confused about their eligibility. The database shows 74 cases of felons voting and 56 cases of noncitizens voting.
- Voters make a lot of mistakes, from accidentally voting twice to voting in the wrong precinct.
- Election officials make a lot of mistakes, from clerical errors — giving voters ballots when they’ve already voted — to election workers confused about voters’ eligibility requirement.