In a startling revelation, a survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports in collaboration with the Heartland Institute unveils a concerning statistic related to the 2020 election. More than 1-in-5 voters who submitted mail-in ballots during that election admit to having done so fraudulently.
The survey posed a critical question to those who voted by mail in the 2020 election: whether they had filled out a ballot “in part or in full, on behalf of a friend or family member, such as a spouse or child?” Alarmingly, a staggering 21 percent of respondents acknowledged having engaged in such fraudulent practices.
While some states permit voters to receive assistance when casting their ballots, it is important to emphasize that completing ballots on behalf of another individual is illegal throughout the United States.
Further examination of the survey results exposes additional violations of election laws. An additional 17 percent of mail-in voters in the 2020 election confessed to casting a ballot in a state where they were no longer permanent residents, a clear contravention of federal election law. Equally concerning, another 17 percent of mail-in voters admitted to signing a ballot on behalf of someone else, constituting another breach of election law.
The implications of these findings are significant, as they challenge the narrative of the 2020 election being hailed as the most secure in history. Justin Haskins, affiliated with the Heartland Institute, expressed astonishment at the survey’s results. He highlighted that the conclusions drawn were not based on conspiracy theories or dubious evidence but rather on direct admissions made by the voters themselves.
The survey delved deeper into public perceptions surrounding these irregularities. An additional 10 percent of all voters disclosed that they personally knew someone who had openly admitted to casting a mail-in ballot in a state where they did not possess permanent residency. Furthermore, 11 percent of respondents claimed to know individuals who confessed to signing a mail-in ballot on behalf of someone else during the 2020 election.
The context of the 2020 election saw a significant surge in mail-in voting, primarily driven by states’ rapid loosening of election laws in response to the perceived threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 43 percent of all voters in that election opted for mail-in ballots, with 26 percent casting their votes before Election Day.
The survey gathered responses from 1,085 likely U.S. voters and was conducted over a period from November 30 to December 6, 2023. It is noteworthy that the margin of error for this survey is +/- three percentage points. These revelations underscore the significance of addressing and investigating potential irregularities to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
