Claims of widespread election fraud, particularly in nursing homes and involving non-citizen voters, continue to influence federal election policy and rhetoric as the United States approaches the 2026 midterm elections. Many of these assertions, rooted in former President Donald Trump’s unfounded allegations following the 2020 presidential election, have nonetheless found their way into government action this year.
Trump repeatedly claimed that “thousands and thousands” of illegal votes were cast in Wisconsin nursing homes during the 2020 election, a charge that lacks evidence but remains popular among his supporters. Concerns about improper voting assistance in such facilities resurfaced in July when the Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance cautioning staff against “inappropriate coercion” related to voting, a message criticized by voting rights advocates who argued it could deter lawful assistance to elderly voters.
Beyond nursing homes, the Trump administration has focused extensively on claims of non-citizen voting and the alleged corruption of mail-in ballots. Despite expert consensus that illegal voting by non-citizens is exceedingly rare, hundreds of federal investigators from multiple agencies have dedicated resources this year to identifying purported instances. In September, the Supreme Court blocked a Trump-backed plan that sought to change mail-in voting rules through the U.S. Postal Service, which included provisions that could have hindered ballot delivery in states that did not comply.
Concerns regarding voting technology have also entered the federal spotlight. Markwayne Mullin, the current Homeland Security Secretary and a Trump ally, requested the Department of Justice investigate the reliability of electronic voting machines, particularly machines containing foreign-made components. Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk who was convicted of tampering with voting equipment after the 2020 election and subsequently pardoned by Trump, has publicly pushed for a federal seizure of such machines.
Critics warn that the federal government’s involvement in amplifying these conspiracy theories risks undermining public trust in electoral integrity. David Becker, who formerly served as a Justice Department voting rights attorney and now leads an election-focused nonprofit, called the federal engagement with disinformation “troubling” and unprecedented in American history. He emphasized that these claims have consistently failed to be substantiated, yet their promotion could disenfranchise voters or provide grounds for contesting election outcomes.
Defending these efforts, a White House spokesperson asserted that evidence of voter fraud “continues to pile up” despite denials from Democrats and the media, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to holding illegal voters accountable.
The persistence of these allegations appears linked to the enduring belief among some Trump supporters that the 2020 election was unjustly lost. Influential figures such as Steve Bannon have publicly stated that the core of the “MAGA movement” is the conviction that Trump “won the 2020 election.” Groups aligned with Trump’s efforts have produced materials advising volunteers to monitor nursing homes in competitive districts for suspected vote interference by left-wing organizations, reinforcing unfounded fears of election manipulation.
While the 2016 claims about non-citizen voter fraud were extensively debunked by independent groups, the Trump Justice Department has this year threatened criminal charges against states that fail to investigate ballots cast by non-citizens. Similarly, allegations targeting mail-in voting emerged prominently during the COVID-19 pandemic as officials expanded absentee voting to protect public health—claims Trump has maintained despite evidence to the contrary. Notably, in a recent shift reflecting political calculus, he encouraged Republicans to vote by mail in competitive races, including casting mail ballots himself in Florida’s primaries.
As the nation approaches the midterm elections, these contested claims and federal actions rooted in disputed conspiracy theories continue to shape the electoral landscape, fueling debate over election security and voter access.