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Trump offers $1 million reward for voter fraud reports that lead to convictions

He did not say where the money would come from. NBC News says there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and the midterms are Nov. 3.

7 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
Liberal4 outletsCenter2 outletsConservative1 outletlittle coverage
Published 3 min read
Overview

President Donald Trump announced on Monday a $1 million reward for anyone who reports voter fraud in past elections or in the upcoming . In a Truth Social post, he said payment would come upon the "arrest and conviction" of those responsible. The Guardian reports that he restated the offer to journalists on Monday as he left for a campaign trip to Mississippi.

The midterms are on Nov. 3. NBC News and The Guardian report that Trump did not say where the money would come from, and The New York Times says it was unclear how he would pay. According to NBC News, a White House spokesperson gave no more detail and referred to the post.

NBC News also links the offer to a $25 million government fraud program and to Trump's promise of $5,000 payments if Republicans keep control of . Several outlets describe Trump's claims of widespread fraud as lacking evidence, and the BBC says studies find postal and non-citizen voting fraud extremely rare. The Washington Times reports that Trump said anyone who identifies voter fraud will be awarded $1 million.

Three sides of the story

Liberal4 outlets

NBC News, The Guardian and The New York Times report the reward and stress that Trump has not said how it would be funded. NBC says there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, notes that isolated cases happen and are usually caught, and cites a Heritage Foundation tracker with over 1,600 incidents across 40 years. It ties the offer to other administration moves before the midterms, including suits against California and Alaska officials.

The Guardian prints Trump's full post and his remarks to reporters, notes California Rob Bonta's criticism of the administration's noncitizen-voting efforts, and recalls a 2020 reward offered by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The New York Times describes the fraud warnings as "unfounded." ABC News, in an explainer on slow California counts, says Trump claims without evidence that the state is "rigged," quotes Secretary of State Shirley Weber calling voting there secure, and cites a White House spokesperson saying Trump opposes universal mail voting.

Center2 outlets

The Hill reports the $1 million offer, notes it came about a week before the midterms, and quotes Trump's statement from Monday afternoon. BBC News pairs the announcement with a BBC Verify review of Trump's claims that fraud is "rampant." It says studies find postal and non-citizen voting fraud extremely rare.

It cites Brookings figures of about four cases per 10 million postal votes, a Heritage Foundation database with 325 postal-ballot convictions over 20 years, and a Reuters analysis of non-citizen cases: 129 charged over 30 years, 73 convicted. BBC also lays out Trump's efforts on mail voting and voter ID, including the rejecting his as "arbitrary and capricious." It quotes Jonathan Diaz of the Campaign Legal Center on ID concerns, and Walter Olson of the conservative Cato Institute, who says there is little proof that voter ID laws have had either effect that each side claims.

Conservative1 outlet

Outlets on the right gave the story little coverage. The Washington Times reports that Trump said Monday anyone who identifies voter fraud will be awarded $1 million.

All sources: 7 articles from 7 outlets

Liberal (4)

Center (2)

Conservative (1)

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