According to the poll, conducted by Rasmussen, approximately 44 million Americans would vote illegally in 2024 election “to prevent other side from winning”
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL (April 16, 2024) – In late 2023, The Heartland Institute released a poll showing that in the 2020 general election, more than one-in-five mail-in voters admitted to voting illegally. Unfortunately, widespread illegal voting in presidential elections seems to be the new normal in the United States.
Based on our latest poll, 28% of all voters say they would engage in at least one kind of illegal voting practice in order to help their preferred candidate–either President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump—win the 2024 election. Examples of illegal voting scenarios that voters say they would engage in include voting in multiple states; destroying mail-in ballots of friends or family members; paying or offering rewards to fellow voters; deliberately providing incorrect information about the place, time, or date associated with casting a ballot; and/or altering candidate selections on mail-in ballots.
Although self-identified Democrat voters are slightly more likely to engage in illegal voting to ensure that Biden would win, the number of self-identified Republican voters who would also engage in illegal voting to guarantee a Trump victory is also quite concerning. Interestingly, independent voters are much less likely to vote illegally than either Democrats or Republicans.
Clearly, this is a major problem and does not bode well for the future of election integrity in the United States. With approximately 200 days before the 2024 election, time is of the essence to safeguard the veracity of this pivotal presidential election. As such, states should do everything in their power to ensure that illegal voting is minimized as much as possible. Fortunately, The Heartland Institute has prepared a set of policy solutions that states could undertake that would surely reduce the amount of illegal voting in the future.
The following statements from experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected] and 312/377-4000 or (cell) 312/731-9364.
“A few months ago, we found in a separate poll commissioned by The Heartland Institute and conducted by Rasmussen Reports that approximately 28 percent of mail-in voters admitted to casting at least one form of an illegal ballot. A follow-up policy report written by my colleagues and I found that these illegal ballots almost certainly tilted the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden.
“Now, a new Heartland/Rasmussen poll has found that voters intend to cheat in 2024 on an even greater scale than in 2020. Overall, 28 percent of all respondents stated that they would resort to at least one form of election fraud if it helped propel their preferred candidate in office. Doing the math, that means that—if voter turnout remains similar to 2020—nearly 45 million ballots may be fraudulently cast if they are not prevented.
“The results of this poll will hopefully galvanize state policymakers to craft legislation designed to ensure election integrity by vastly restricting mail-in voting. In turn, that legislation must be enforced to the greatest possible extent by states’ executive branches. Failure to implement such solutions will allow our elections to become even more tainted by election fraud. Without secure elections, we will collectively lose faith in our electoral system, and our republic will die with a whimper.”
Jack McPherrin
Research Editor and Socialism Research Center Fellow
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“Our survey clearly indicates that millions of voters, both Democrats and Republicans alike, are willing to vote illegally and even to commit serious crimes in order to stop political opposition. More than one-in-four voters, 28%, said they’d be willing to break election rules to help their presidential candidate of choice.
“As deeply troubling as these survey results are, however, the even bigger story is that state lawmakers have not put election integrity policies in place that will stop cheating in 2024 and beyond. We need common-sense election rules imposed immediately, to ensure the 2024 elections are truly free and fair. A powerful and simple solution would be to require that anyone voting by mail sign his or her ballot or ballot envelope in front of a notary. Only three states currently have such a requirement–Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma–and none of them are swing states.
“If state lawmakers do not succeed in getting better election integrity laws in place, Americans will cheat in the 2024 presidential election. How do I know? Because they are openly admitting it.”
Justin Haskins
Socialism Research Center Director
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“Election integrity is absolutely vital for the future of the American republic. Since 2000, a disturbing trend has emerged in which more and more Americans do not trust the outcomes of U.S. elections. In 2020, this issue came to a head due to the flood of illegal mail-in ballots that likely changed the outcome of the election in the crucial swing states.
“It is beyond concerning that nearly 30% of Americans openly admit that they are willing to engage in at least one kind of illegal voting practice in the 2024 election. Since this is the case, it is imperative that state legislatures do everything in their power to guarantee the veracity of elections.”
Chris Talgo
Editorial Director and Socialism Research Fellow
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“Back in December, we released poll results showing a massive number of voters using mail-in ballots admitted to voting illegally in the 2020 election. In the months that followed, we showed that a fraction of this admitted fraud could have swung the entire 2020 presidential election.
“Our new poll shows, given the opportunity, millions of voters are willing to cheat in the upcoming general election. For the sake of our country, this cannot be allowed to happen. If people are truly dedicated to preserving the democratic process in America, action must be taken to shore up our elections and promote voter integrity.”
Donald Kendal
Deputy Director of the Socialism Research Center
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our website or call 312/377-4000.
Survey of 1,467 National Likely Voters
April 2024 | Conducted by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute
1. How would you rate the job Joe Biden has been doing as President?
25% strongly approve
18% somewhat approve
9% somewhat disapprove
45% strongly disapprove
2% not sure
2. If the 2024 election was held today and the candidates were Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who would you vote for?
36% Joe Biden
45% Donald Trump
11% Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
4% some other candidate
3% not sure
ALL VOTERS ASKED (TRUMP/BIDEN/OTHER SPECIFIC NUMBERS ARE AFTER THIS SECTION)
3. If a coworker or a friendly acquaintance gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
17% yes
80% no
3% not sure
4. If a close friend gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
14% yes
82% no
3% not sure
5. If your spouse or another trusted family member gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
18% yes
78% no
4% not sure
6. If given the opportunity, would you alter the candidate selections made in a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge?
9% yes
89% no
2% not sure
Answered by the 1,334 respondents who said “no” or “not sure” in the previous question:
7. If altering the candidate selection were the only way to stop [Joe Biden / Donald Trump] from being elected, then would you do it?
8% yes
84% no
8% not sure
8. If given the opportunity, would you throw out or destroy a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge, to help stop [Joe Biden / Donald Trump] from being re-elected as president?
11% yes
85% no
3% not sure
9. If given the opportunity, would you cast a ballot in two different states to help stop [Joe Biden / Donald Trump] from being re-elected as president?
10% yes
87% no
3% not sure
10. If given the opportunity, would you offer pay or a reward to another voter, including friends or family members, to help stop [Joe Biden / Donald Trump] from being re-elected president?
10% yes
86% no
4% not sure
11. If given the opportunity, would you deliberately tell another voter incorrect information about the place, time, or date associated with casting a ballot, to help stop [Joe Biden / Donald Trump] from being re-elected as president?
10% yes
87% no
3% not sure
Answered “yes” to at least one question above (ALL VOTERS):
28% yes
72% no
TRUMP VOTERS
3. If a coworker or a friendly acquaintance gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
14% yes
83% no
2% not sure
4. If a close friend gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
14% yes
84% no
2% not sure
5. If your spouse or another trusted family member gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
19% yes
79% no
3% not sure
6. If given the opportunity, would you alter the candidate selections made in a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge?
8% yes
90% no
2% not sure
Answered by the 611 Trump respondents who said “no” or “not sure” in the previous question:
7. If altering the candidate selection were the only way to stop Joe Biden from being elected, then would you do it?
10% yes
82% no
8% not sure
8. If given the opportunity, would you throw out or destroy a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge, to help stop Joe Biden from being re-elected as president?
12% yes
85% no
3% not sure
9. If given the opportunity, would you cast a ballot in two different states to help stop Joe Biden from being re-elected as president?
10% yes
88% no
2% not sure
10. If given the opportunity, would you offer pay or a reward to another voter, including friends or family members, to help stop Joe Biden from being re-elected president?
10% yes
85% no
4% not sure
11. If given the opportunity, would you deliberately tell another voter incorrect information about the place, time, or date associated with casting a ballot, to help stop Joe Biden from being re-elected as president?
10% yes
87% no
3% not sure
Answered “yes” to at least one question (TRUMP VOTERS):
29% yes
71% no
BIDEN VOTERS
3. If a coworker or a friendly acquaintance gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
19% yes
79% no
2% not sure
4. If a close friend gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
16% yes
82% no
2% not sure
5. If your spouse or another trusted family member gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
18% yes
79% no
2% not sure
6. If given the opportunity, would you alter the candidate selections made in a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge?
11% yes
88% no
1% not sure
Answered by the 477 Biden respondents who said “no” or “not sure” in the previous question:
7. If altering the candidate selection were the only way to stop Donald Trump from being elected, then would you do it?
8% yes
85% no
7% not sure
8. If given the opportunity, would you throw out or destroy a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge, to help stop Donald Trump from being re-elected as president?
12% yes
84% no
3% not sure
9. If given the opportunity, would you cast a ballot in two different states to help stop Donald Trump from being re-elected as president?
11% yes
87% no
2% not sure
10. If given the opportunity, would you offer pay or a reward to another voter, including friends or family members, to help stop Donald Trump from being re-elected president?
11% yes
85% no
4% not sure
11. If given the opportunity, would you deliberately tell another voter incorrect information about the place, time, or date associated with casting a ballot, to help stop Donald Trump from being re-elected as president?
10% yes
88% no
2% not sure
Answered “yes” to at least one question (BIDEN VOTERS):
27% yes
73% no
OTHER VOTERS (Kennedy, some other candidate, not sure)
3. If a coworker or a friendly acquaintance gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
19% yes
75% no
6% not sure
4. If a close friend gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
11% yes
80% no
8% not sure
5. If your spouse or another trusted family member gave you permission to fill out and sign their mail-in ballot, allowing you to use their ballot to vote for anyone that you choose, would you?
16% yes
76% no
8% not sure
6. If given the opportunity, would you alter the candidate selections made in a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge?
8% yes
88% no
5% not sure
Answered by the 255 other respondents who said “no” or “not sure” in the previous question:
7. If altering the candidate selection were the only way to help your candidate get elected, then would you do it?
5% yes
87% no
8% not sure
8. If given the opportunity, would you throw out or destroy a mail-in ballot belonging to a friend or family member, without their knowledge, to help your candidate get elected as president?
7% yes
89% no
4% not sure
9. If given the opportunity, would you cast a ballot in two different states to help your candidate get elected as president?
9% yes
86% no
4% not sure
10. If given the opportunity, would you offer pay or a reward to another voter, including friends or family members, to help your candidate get elected president?
6% yes
89% no
5% not sure
11. If given the opportunity, would you deliberately tell another voter incorrect information about the place, time, or date associated with casting a ballot, to help your candidate get elected as president?
8% yes
88% no
4% not sure
Answered “yes” to at least one question (OTHER VOTERS):
25% yes
75% no
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence
Jack McPherrin is The Heartland Institute’s research editor, as well as a research fellow within Heartland’s Socialism Research Center.
Chris Talgo is senior editor at The Heartland Institute and a research fellow for Heartland’s Socialism Research Center.
Justin Haskins is the director of the Socialism Research Center and editorial director at The Heartland Institute.
Donald Kendal is a graphic designer for The Heartland Institute, a research fellow for Heartland’s Socialism Research Center, and the host of Heartland’s In the Tank Podcast and Stopping Socialism TV.
