Amid talk of 'rigged' election, experts say fraud is rare

[webfact]

Amid talk of 'rigged' election, experts say fraud is rare

By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY

 

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump has repeatedly warned of a "rigged" election, saying large-scale voter fraud is happening in the U.S. and suggesting it will affect the outcome of this year's presidential race. There is no evidence that such widespread fraud exists.

 

Trump's comments have alarmed voting rights experts and civil rights groups, who say they threaten to undermine faith in the nation's elections. Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republicans are expressing confidence in the voting systems, while state election officials are saying they are committed to conducting fair and impartial elections.

 

It's worth noting, too, that 29 of the nation's secretaries of state are Republican.

 

Here's a look at what Trump has been saying, along with historical data about voter fraud and what this could mean for Election Day.

___

WHAT TRUMP HAS SAID

In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly raised questions about the integrity of the nation's voting systems and called for his supporters to monitor polling places in "certain areas" to guard against voter fraud. He's made the comments during campaign stops in battleground states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, singling out Philadelphia as a city to watch.

 

Recently, Trump sent a series of tweets in which he called Republican leaders "naive" for dismissing his claims of widespread voter fraud and saying the election is being rigged "by the dishonest and distorted media" for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

 

Trump's supporters appear to share his concerns. A poll last month by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found half of all those with a favorable opinion of Trump said they have little to no confidence in the integrity of the vote count.

___

IS VOTER FRAUD A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM?

No. While there have been isolated cases of voter fraud in the U.S., there is no evidence of it being a widespread problem as Trump suggests.

The type of fraud that Trump appears to be talking about would involve people casting ballots who know they are not eligible to vote, as well as people impersonating others to cast ballots for their preferred candidate. Experts say this would be an inefficient way to rig an election, given the fraud would have to be conducted one voter at a time, and would only be effective in places where the race is close enough that the outcome could be swayed.

 

Studies have shown voter impersonation to be quite rare. In one study, a Loyola Law School professor found 31 instances involving allegations of voter impersonation out of 1 billion votes cast in U.S. elections between 2000 and 2014. Another study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School found many reports of people voting twice or ballots being cast on behalf of dead people were largely the result of clerical errors that suggested wrongdoing when none had occurred.

 

"Voter fraud is so incredibly rare that it has no impact on the integrity of our elections," said Wendy Weiser, head of the democracy program at the Brennan Center. "You are more likely to be struck by lightning, more likely to see a UFO, than to be a victim of voter fraud."

 

In Philadelphia on Monday, Republican election commissioner Al Schmidt dismissed the idea that election fraud could take place in the nation's fifth-largest city. "The real threat to the integrity of elections is irresponsible accusations that undermine confidence in the electoral process," he said.

___

VOTER FRAUD VS. ELECTION FRAUD

Other types of fraud are possible, such as voting machines being intentionally manipulated to report false results. So-called "ballot stuffing" would be considered election fraud, rather than voter fraud, because it would be orchestrated by someone involved in administering the election or someone who has gained access to the election administration system.

 

Experts say federal elections would be much more difficult to influence this way because of the broad, decentralized nature of the nation's voting systems. There are more than 9,000 election jurisdictions and hundreds of thousands of polling places.

 

That also holds true for any effort by hackers to influence this year's presidential election. Experts say it's unlikely a hacker could change votes, but one might be able to delete voters from registration files, triggering confusion and long lines at the polls.

___

WHAT MEASURES EXIST TO GUARD AGAINST FRAUD?

State election officials have several measures in place to protect the integrity of their voting systems, and both political parties have a vested interest in making sure the outcome is fair.

 

Voting machines are not connected to the internet, and the vast majority of ballots will be cast on systems that allow for a paper record to verify electronic results.

 

The process of counting the votes is not done on systems connected to the internet and tabulation systems are not connected to a single network, according to the National Association of Secretaries of State.

 

As in past presidential elections, individual campaigns, political parties and special interest and civil rights groups will have operations designed to assist voters and monitor for any problems at the polls.

___

DOES VOTER ID COMBAT VOTER FRAUD?

There have been efforts in recent years, largely in Republican-led states, to pass laws requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Supporters say such laws are needed to combat voter fraud, while critics argue the laws disproportionately affect minorities and the poor who may face challenges obtaining a government-issued photo ID.

 

Courts have recently agreed. In striking down parts of a voter ID law in North Carolina this year, a federal appeals court judge wrote they "target African Americans with almost surgical precision."

 

The courts have also largely found there is little documented evidence of voter fraud. In a decision finding Texas' photo ID law was discriminatory, a federal appeals court noted there were two convictions related to in-person voter fraud out of 20 million votes cast in the decade before the law was enacted.

 

Experts note that fraud, when it occurs, usually involves absentee ballots or voter registration — problems that could not be solved by requiring an ID at the polls.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-18

[DM07]

"Experts" also say, climate change is not a hoax by the Chinese!

Don't let get facts in your way!

Go get them, Donnie!

[Ulysses G.]

The fraud is the lies and distortions about Trump published in the MSM.

[dutchisaan]

The only fraud in this ellection is Trump himself.

[tonray]

17 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

The fraud is the lies and distortions about Trump published in the MSM.

Name some please. Reporting allegations is not a lie. Reporting what Donald has said in public is not a lie. Name some...

[Ulysses G.]

29 minutes ago, tonray said:

Name some please.

 

That Trump is an anti-Semite for starts. His daughter her family and his top advisers are all Jewish. Another MSM lie.

[boomerangutang]

Again, the Trumpster does what he's adept at:   CAUSING DIVISIONS.

 

And yet again, his rhetoric is paved with lies.   I'm surprised and saddened that he still has fans.  It paints an ugly picture of a segment of the US population.  Probably the same people who are anti-science and anti-common-sense.   They put up a facade about being decent church-goers, but just beneath the surface they laud a self-admitted peeping tom who gawks at their naked 15 year old daughters.   Worse than hypocritical. 

[tonray]

15 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

That Trump is an anti-Semite for starts. His daughter her family and his top advisers are all Jewish. Another MSM lie.

Could you post the link for that one.. I did not see it.  I guess saying the president was not born in the US was OK though?  I don't recall seeing your outrage on that one... 555

[SoiBiker]

37 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

That Trump is an anti-Semite for starts. His daughter her family and his top advisers are all Jewish. Another MSM lie.

 

His top advisors are not all Jewish. His campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, for example, is a Catholic. So is the chairman of his campaign, Steve Bannon. 

[Ulysses G.]

2 minutes ago, SoiBiker said:

 

His top advisors are not all Jewish. 

 

For his BUSINESS - not his political campaign.

[Ulysses G.]

28 minutes ago, tonray said:

 I guess saying the president was not born in the US was OK though?  I don't recall seeing your outrage on that one.

 

Because your recall is very selective. I always said he was born in USA.

Edited October 18, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[Estrada]

Voter fraud hardly exists in the USA. Only 33 cases were identified in an in depth study carried out going back years. The system is of course rigged, since previous Democrat majority Governments have made sure that the Democrats have more chance of winning the Presidency and Senate by arranging the voting constituencies to favour them. Republican majority Governments have rigged the vote for the House Representatives by rearranging constituencies to make sure that Republican voters outnumber Democrats. Billions of Dollars are spent, over a farcically long 1.5 years process, to elect a President whilst the World has to watch and wait. The whole system is corrupted and rigged, but not at the ballot box. Once in power the Representatives have to spend up to 80% of their time soliciting money from special interests, such as the NRA, in buildings close by the House and Senate, and are given a target by their parties. 100% of their time should be representing their electorate.

[Boon Mee]

Voter Fraud Is Real. Here’s The Proof

Data suggests millions of voter registrations are fraudulent or invalid. That’s enough to tip an election, easily.

 

This week, liberals have been repeating their frequent claim that voter fraud doesn’t exist. A recent Salon article argues that “voter fraud just isn’t a problem in Pennsylvania,” despite evidence to the contrary. 

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/13/voter-fraud-real-heres-proof/

It's real, boys.  Believe it...

Edited October 18, 2016 by metisdead
Edited as per fair use policy.

[Laughing Gravy]

The headline is farcical. I could put links down below all day.

 

http://dailysignal.com/2015/08/11/nearly-300-cases-the-extent-of-voter-fraud-in-america/

 

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/2004votefraud.html

 

http://occupydemocrats.com/2015/04/21/jeb-bush-wants-us-to-forget-his-election-fraud-that-stole-the-white-house-for-george/

[ilostmypassword]

5 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

That Trump is an anti-Semite for starts. His daughter her family and his top advisers are all Jewish. Another MSM lie.

You are confused.  Just because Trump may not personally be an anti-semite, that doesn't mean that he won't use anti-semitic tropes when it suits him. Gee, international bankers and conspiracy theories. Where have we heard that sort of ti His latest was the contention that the Clintons are at the center of a conspiracy of international bankers to destroy US sovereignty.  He didn't come out and mention Jews specifically...but he didn't need to.  You think his white nationalist supporters don't lap this stuff up? 

Donald Trump’s ‘international bankers’ speech leaves some uneasy

Trump delivered a speech Thursday in West Palm Beach, Florida, that sounded some familiar themes – familiar to his campaign, but also to folks versed in anti-Semitism and in classic conspiracy theories of global control that is its lifeblood...

 But in declaring that his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, is somehow an instrument of a vast conspiracy involving scads of money and “international banks,” he entered what many saw as a territory, real and ideological, where hostility to Jews perpetuates and thrives even in their absence.

“Hillary Clinton meets in secret with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty in order to enrich these global financial powers, her special interest friends and her donors,” Trump said.

http://www.jta.org/2016/10/14/news-opinion/politics/donald-trumps-conspiracy-theories-stir-uneasy-echoes

[Ulysses G.]

1 minute ago, ilostmypassword said:

You are confused. 

 

No. You are. This is exactly the kind of LIE I am talking about. "International bankers" is not a codeword. It means INTERNATIONAL BANKERS.

 

 

[SoiBiker]

9 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

No. You are. This is exactly the kind of LIE I am talking about. "International bankers" is not a codeword. It means INTERNATIONAL BANKERS.

 

 

 

It's a dog whistle. You'd have to be either naive or deluded not to see that. 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2016 by SoiBiker

[Ulysses G.]

44 minutes ago, SoiBiker said:

 

It's a dog whistle. You'd have to be either naive or deluded not to see that. 

 

 

 

It's dishonest spin meant to further demonize the man. You'd have to be either naive or deluded not to see that.

[Steely Dan]

This must be why the Clinton team were fretting about the Obama campaign poll rigging during the previous Democratic nomination battle. Of course the press have been disgusting in their complicity to aid and abet theClinton campaign.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[AYJAYDEE]

33 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

It's dishonest spin meant to further demonize the man. You'd have to be either naive or deluded not to see that.

 

so strange, I cant remember your outrage over Fox demonizing dems!! lol

[Steely Dan]

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Voter Fraud Is Real. Here’s The Proof

Data suggests millions of voter registrations are fraudulent or invalid. That’s enough to tip an election, easily.

 

This week, liberals have been repeating their frequent claim that voter fraud doesn’t exist. A recent Salon article argues that “voter fraud just isn’t a problem in Pennsylvania,” despite evidence to the contrary. 

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/13/voter-fraud-real-heres-proof/

It's real, boys.  Believe it...

Disenfranchisement of the not living is surely deceasophobia.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[AYJAYDEE]

3 minutes ago, Steely Dan said:

Disenfranchisement of the not living is surely deceasophobia.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

 

lol! 21 votes

 

[kingalfred]

The real "rigging" of elections is the fact that that political court called "Supreme Court" ruled corporations have the same rights as an individual in spending as much money as they want to influence elections across the board. Bought and paid for Democracy!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[mike324]

People are blowing this issue up when less than 100 votes are frauds compare to tens and millions of legitimate votes? Get a life here, Trump must be getting desparate.

 

Trump has nothing else to comment about because he will be losing like a sore loser with excuses already set up.

[anon467367354]

Voter fraud is rare. seriously???

It's more serious than anyone really imagined. Hear it for yourself!

https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/10/undercover-video-shows-democrat-operatives-admitting-they-incited-violence-at-trump-rallies

[Chicog]

3 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

That Trump is an anti-Semite for starts. His daughter her family and his top advisers are all Jewish. Another MSM lie.

 

I've hardly seen that plastered all over the headlines.

But I didn't see Trump's condemnation of this guy either. Maybe Trump rather liked being called "Glorious Leader".

 

Quote

 

A vile neo-Nazi website has unleashed an anti-Semitic screed against state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman over his probe of Donald Trump’s charity.

An article in The Daily Stormer refers to Schneiderman as the “New York K--e Attorney General” and slams his office’s recent move to block Trump’s charity from raising funds as a gigantic hoax.

“This is what happens when you have Jews,” website publisher Andrew Anglin wrote in the article. “They are a vile parasite that eats the body of a nation from the inside out.”

Anglin refers to Trump as “GLORIOUS LEADER” and warns that if the Republican loses the election “people are going to blame the Jews. And they don’t have the support of the military or the cops.”

 

 

He started this a long while ago, if you remember, saying how he would rather have Jews counting his money than blacks.

 

[Chicog]

13 minutes ago, gr8fldanielle said:

Voter fraud is rare. seriously???

It's more serious than anyone really imagined. Hear it for yourself!

https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/10/undercover-video-shows-democrat-operatives-admitting-they-incited-violence-at-trump-rallies

 

Yes, voter fraud is rare, despite what your right wing websites try and tell you.

[Chicog]

Quote

Data suggests millions of voter registrations are fraudulent or invalid. That’s enough to tip an election, easily.

No, it doesn't. And it's not.

As with most Trump supporters, for Boon Mee it doesn't have to be factual to be believable, just sensational.

 

There is absolutely no evidence that the miniscule amounts of voter fraud discovered over the years have had any bearing whatsoever on major elections.

Voter fraud is simply a GOP scam to try and put obstacles in the way of legitimate voters who don't support them.

That's why they keep pushing legislation that makes it hard for people to vote, and it's why courts keep throwing it out.

[Time Traveller]

The Democratic commissioner on the New York City board of elections admitted to rampant vote fraud recently on camera.

 

Any "expert" that says voter fraud is rare is either a paid schill or an elite with their head up their own ass they have no idea what happens in the real world

Edited October 18, 2016 by Time Traveller

[Pimay1]

20 minutes ago, Chicog said:

Voter fraud is simply a GOP scam to try and put obstacles in the way of legitimate voters who don't support them.

Read it and weep.

 

http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/13/voter-fraud-real-heres-proof/

 

Watch and weep.

 

 

Edited October 18, 2016 by Pimay1