President Donald Trump has made another financial promise to his election-related efforts. He announced a million-dollar incentive for people who report voter fraud but his announcement leaves a basic question hanging.
Donald Trump’s announced payout depends on an arrest and conviction
Trump announced the offer Monday on Truth Social, saying people who report alleged voter fraud in upcoming or previous elections could receive $1 million. However, the money would not be handed out simply for submitting a tip. Trump said payment would follow the “arrest and conviction” of those responsible for the alleged fraud. The president, however, did not identify a funding source (via NBC).
The proposal arrives amid Trump’s longstanding claims about election misconduct, including his insistence that fraud snatched away his 2020 win. However, available evidence does not support claims of widespread voter fraud in U.S. elections.
Isolated cases do reportedly happen, including people submitting ballots for deceased relatives or providing false information on mail ballot applications, but authorities generally catch them. The conservative Heritage Foundation has documented more than 1,600 voter fraud incidents over four decades.
The Trump administration has its sights set on election rules ahead of the midterms. Federal agencies have ramped up efforts to flag suspected noncitizens on voter rolls. The Justice Department has also taken California officials to court over mail ballots it claims may have reached noncitizens.
The legal battle is heating up on other fronts, too. At Trump’s request, the Justice Department sued Alaska officials last week, seeking to block certification of the U.S. Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. Meanwhile, courts have thrown cold water on Trump’s efforts to overhaul mail-in voting rules and introduce documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Trump’s latest offer follows his announcement of a separate $25 million government fraud whistleblower program, under which he said he would decide who deserved the prize. He has also promised Americans $5,000 payments if Republicans retain control of Congress.
