Voter Fraud versus Election Fraud

Election fraud and voter fraud are distinct but related concepts that refer to different aspects of the electoral process. While they both involve illegal activities that can undermine the integrity of elections, they occur at different stages and have different implications.

1. Election Fraud: Election fraud refers to unlawful actions that manipulate or tamper with the overall electoral process, including the casting and counting of votes, the tabulation of results, and the reporting of outcomes. Election fraud versus voter fraud can occur through various means, such as: a. Manipulating voting machines or altering electronic voting systems. b. Tampering with ballot boxes or illegally handling and counting paper ballots. c. Falsifying voter registration records or manipulating voter rolls. d. Coercing or intimidating voters to influence their choices. e. Rigging the electoral administration or corrupting election officials. Election fraud aims to alter the outcome of an election, often to benefit a particular candidate or party, and can have far-reaching consequences for the democratic process.

2. Voter Fraud: Voter fraud, on the other hand, refers to fraudulent activities committed by individual voters during the casting of their ballots. It involves attempts by individuals to undermine the fairness and accuracy of elections by illegally influencing the outcome through fraudulent voting practices. Examples of voter fraud include: a. Voting under a false identity or assuming someone else's identity. b. Voting multiple times in the same election. c. Voting as a non-citizen or when ineligible to vote. d. Impersonating someone else to cast their vote. While voter fraud is a concern, studies have shown that it is relatively rare in comparison to the overall number of votes cast. The impact of individual instances of voter fraud is usually limited and unlikely to affect the outcome of an entire election.