4 ms·

How does vote fraud necessarily rely on a conspiracy? In many states, knowing someone's name and address is sufficient to vote as that person as long as they've

How does vote fraud necessarily rely on a conspiracy? In many states, knowing someone's name and address is sufficient to vote as that person as long as they've previously registered. Any individual can show up at the polling place multiple times and vote as someone else and it would be very difficult to prove they'd done so.

wtvanhest 13y ago
Because you need a large enough number to actually make a difference. 1 person going from place to place voting over and over could only get a certain number of votes in over a few weeks. Could one person put 200 votes in if they really worked at it? Maybe, but realistically 200 votes just won't do it. You basically need a conspiracy.
MichaelSalib 13y ago
Let's say I show up at the polling place and try to vote in someone else's name. If they've already voted, then I'm in deep trouble. In fact, my polling place often has a police officer hanging out on election day. If they haven't voted but come to vote after me, they're in deep trouble. Either way, there's going to be a big stink and a police report. Moreover, I can't vote more than once in the same precinct: I need to go elsewhere lest I'm recognized, and in most of the US, elsewhere is actually quite far away. It really doesn't make sense spending money to prevent attacks that are completely economically infeasible. Besides, let's say we require ID for voting. Now, everyone who illegally voted before can continue illegally voting: all they have to do is get some fake IDs, which any bored teenager looking for beer can do.
- Casseres 13y ago
  Every place I've been to vote, the election workers had a printed list of people who could vote and would highlight their names once they voted. It's in plain view and it would be easy to read the names and find one to use while waiting in line to get your ballet.
  - MichaelSalib 13y ago
    Sure, you could maybe read a name...and then you have to show up later in front of the same election worker who checked you in earlier. Don't you think they'd recognize you? When I vote, I have to make eye contact and speak with four different poll workers. The odds that I could vote several times without any of them noticing are very low. The odds that a bunch of people could each vote many times over without any of the poll workers noticing are zero.
    - Casseres 13y ago
      You read the name and vote with that name, not your own... Go to next polling station and repeat with a different name.
      - MichaelSalib 13y ago
        And what happens when someone whom you voted as shows up to vote? I mean, if this is going to happen on a large enough scale to affect the outcome of an election, that event has to happen many times. Which means poll workers and police are going to record many cases of voter fraud. So, can you show me an election in the US where that has happened? Even just one? Or is this a fantasy? The point is that if each fraudulent voter has to go to multiple polling stations, that dramatically increases the cost and raises the likelihood of detection. In order to scale that attack up to be practical, you'd need buses full of fraudulent voters going from one station to the next.
qdog 13y ago
Most polling places are staffed by locals and will often recognize someone trying to commit fraud. If the person who you are trying to impersonate also votes, it will also trigger an event. Worst case you show up to vote after someone has already voted, you trigger this event and get busted. Theoretically the only people you could safely impersonate would be dead and un-likely to be known to the pollster. Even if you found that, how many times could you vote? You'd risk someone recognizing you the second time, so you'd have to try and visit multiple polling places. The most likely place for fraud to occur would be after the vote takes place: either in the counting system, or tampering with the votes. There is not much chance of changing enough votes simple by showing up and casting a physical ballot, unless you have a high enough number of people doing it (and somehow not getting caught and triggering an investigation).

wtvanhest 13y ago

Because you need a large enough number to actually make a difference. 1 person going from place to place voting over and over could only get a certain number of votes in over a few weeks. Could one person put 200 votes in if they really worked at it? Maybe, but realistically 200 votes just won't do it. You basically need a conspiracy.

MichaelSalib 13y ago

Let's say I show up at the polling place and try to vote in someone else's name. If they've already voted, then I'm in deep trouble. In fact, my polling place often has a police officer hanging out on election day. If they haven't voted but come to vote after me, they're in deep trouble. Either way, there's going to be a big stink and a police report. Moreover, I can't vote more than once in the same precinct: I need to go elsewhere lest I'm recognized, and in most of the US, elsewhere is actually quite far away. It really doesn't make sense spending money to prevent attacks that are completely economically infeasible. Besides, let's say we require ID for voting. Now, everyone who illegally voted before can continue illegally voting: all they have to do is get some fake IDs, which any bored teenager looking for beer can do.

Casseres 13y ago
Every place I've been to vote, the election workers had a printed list of people who could vote and would highlight their names once they voted. It's in plain view and it would be easy to read the names and find one to use while waiting in line to get your ballet.
- MichaelSalib 13y ago
  Sure, you could maybe read a name...and then you have to show up later in front of the same election worker who checked you in earlier. Don't you think they'd recognize you? When I vote, I have to make eye contact and speak with four different poll workers. The odds that I could vote several times without any of them noticing are very low. The odds that a bunch of people could each vote many times over without any of the poll workers noticing are zero.
  - Casseres 13y ago
    You read the name and vote with that name, not your own... Go to next polling station and repeat with a different name.
    - MichaelSalib 13y ago
      And what happens when someone whom you voted as shows up to vote? I mean, if this is going to happen on a large enough scale to affect the outcome of an election, that event has to happen many times. Which means poll workers and police are going to record many cases of voter fraud. So, can you show me an election in the US where that has happened? Even just one? Or is this a fantasy? The point is that if each fraudulent voter has to go to multiple polling stations, that dramatically increases the cost and raises the likelihood of detection. In order to scale that attack up to be practical, you'd need buses full of fraudulent voters going from one station to the next.

qdog 13y ago

Most polling places are staffed by locals and will often recognize someone trying to commit fraud. If the person who you are trying to impersonate also votes, it will also trigger an event. Worst case you show up to vote after someone has already voted, you trigger this event and get busted. Theoretically the only people you could safely impersonate would be dead and un-likely to be known to the pollster. Even if you found that, how many times could you vote? You'd risk someone recognizing you the second time, so you'd have to try and visit multiple polling places. The most likely place for fraud to occur would be after the vote takes place: either in the counting system, or tampering with the votes. There is not much chance of changing enough votes simple by showing up and casting a physical ballot, unless you have a high enough number of people doing it (and somehow not getting caught and triggering an investigation).