Voter fraud is rare, not rampant

If we want to have an honest conversation about the incidence of voter fraud, we should start with the probability. According to the Election Registration Information Center, out of 14.6 million votes cast by mail in the two previous general elections, there were 372 possible instances of double votes or individuals voting on behalf of a deceased people. This would represent 0.0025% of the total. In any given year, the CDC has determined that your chance of being struck by lightning is 1 in 500,000. These are not the same odds, but the point is that they are comparable.

However, if you are one of those people that doubt anything that emanates from an expert or commission that hasn't been blessed by President Donald Trump, you could look at the summary provided by one of the members who was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, Matthew Dunlap. Indeed, based on the materials that were provided to him, it became abundantly clear that there have been only 938 cases since 2000. In the end, the commission was disbanded and did not issue a report. When this kind of outcome happens, it does not suggest an overwhelming amount of evidence is manifest.

When elected officials treat election fraud as something that is rampant and constituting a serious threat to the integrity of elections, they are either lying or exhibiting an understanding that is comparable to a small child.

Scott Roland

Cedar Rapids