Election officials, alongside journalists, have emphasized that voter fraud is exceptionally rare in the U.S., countering myths of widespread noncitizen voting, impersonation, or voting by deceased individuals. These claims have persisted, especially as key elections approach, prompting a need for clarity about the robust systems in place that safeguard election integrity.
This article outlines the procedures in three battleground states—Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania—highlighting four critical elements of the electoral process that deter voter fraud.
To register in Georgia, individuals must provide extensive information, including their name, address, date of birth, and either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Voters are required to sign a declaration affirming their citizenship under penalty of perjury.
Election officials then verify this information against government databases, ensuring proper identification and citizenship. If discrepancies arise, voters must provide further proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, before their registration is finalized.
Once registered, Georgia maintains its voter rolls by cross-referencing with records of deceased individuals and felons. The state also checks for updates through the U.S. Postal Service and employs the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to identify voters who may have moved or died elsewhere.
This proactive approach ensures that the voter rolls remain accurate and up-to-date, minimizing the chances of fraudulent registrations.
Election Integrity Assured as Georgia Arizona and Pennsylvania Safeguard Against Voter Fraud
Casting a ballot in Georgia requires voters to present a photo ID. For those voting by mail, a request must be made with a driver’s license number or a photocopy of the ID.
Once ballots are cast, they are tabulated, and the totals are reconciled to ensure the number of ballots matches the number of voters. The election process concludes with a risk-limiting audit, where randomly selected batches of ballots are physically counted to verify the accuracy of the results.
In Arizona, the registration process similarly requires a comprehensive set of details, including a signature and proof of citizenship. Like Georgia, voters must affirm their eligibility under penalty of perjury.
Election officials verify identities against state databases and send nonforwardable mail to confirm the accuracy of addresses. If this mail is returned, the voter must update their registration details before participating in elections.
To ensure the integrity of the voter rolls, Arizona employs various methods to track individuals who have moved or passed away, utilizing government databases and ERIC. Voters must provide additional documentation to confirm their identity when casting mail ballots, which involves signature verification.
In-person voters must show ID and can utilize various forms of identification to prove residency, with ballots tabulated securely through established protocols.
In Pennsylvania, voters can register online or by mail, providing similar identifying information and confirming their citizenship. State officials use databases to verify registration and send mailers to confirm addresses. The state also conducts regular reviews of voter rolls to remove inaccuracies, ensuring that only eligible voters remain on the list.
For voting, first-time voters or those at new addresses must show ID, and signatures are checked against records. Following the election, counties perform a hand count of a statistically significant sample of ballots, and the state conducts a risk-limiting audit, further affirming the integrity of the election process.
