Former President Donald Trump has issued a fervent call to action for fellow Republicans, urging urgent measures in response to a recent Heartland/Rasmussen poll. The survey, released on December 12, has raised concerns about voter fraud in the 2020 election, a topic that has been a central point of contention since the election results were certified.
Trump referred to the poll findings as “the biggest story of the year,” asserting that the survey reveals alarming levels of fraud committed by mail-in voters during the 2020 election. The former president has consistently claimed that widespread fraud cost him the election, particularly in states where mail-in ballots played a significant role.
The Heartland/Rasmussen poll, based on responses from a representative sample of 1,085 likely voters, indicates various forms of fraudulent activities related to mail-in voting. Among the key findings, 17 percent of mail-in voters admitted to casting votes in states where they were no longer permanent residents. Additionally, 21 percent confessed to filling out ballots on behalf of others, 17 percent admitted to signing ballots for family members without their consent, and 8 percent reported receiving offers of “pay” or “reward” for their votes.
Furthermore, the survey revealed that 10 percent of all respondents claimed to know someone—a friend, family member, co-worker, or acquaintance—who admitted to fraudulently casting a mail-in ballot.
The backdrop for these concerns is the significant increase in mail-in voting during the 2020 election, accounting for over 43 percent of all votes—a historic high in the United States. The surge in mail-in ballots was partly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to changes in voting procedures to accommodate safety concerns.
The Heartland Institute, a conservative and libertarian public policy think tank, issued a statement interpreting the survey results as indicative of widespread voter fraud, particularly among those who opted for mail-in ballots.
“Taken together, the results of these survey questions appear to show that voter fraud was widespread in the 2020 election, especially among those who cast mail-in ballots,” the institute asserted.
While Trump and some supporters argue that these findings underscore the need for investigations into the integrity of the election, others contend that there is insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of widespread fraud that would have changed the outcome.
As the debate surrounding the 2020 election continues, the Heartland/Rasmussen poll adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of the election’s legitimacy. The call for action from Trump emphasizes the importance that these findings may have for shaping the narrative around the election and influencing future voting policies. The survey results could fuel calls for election reforms, tightening security measures, and reevaluating the role of mail-in voting in future elections.