FACT SHEET: Voter Suppression and the 2026 Midterms

IPS developed this fact sheet for the Our Moral Moment podcast by Repairers of the Breach. You can download it as a PDF here.

What is voter suppression? 

Voter suppression is any attempt to discourage or create barriers to voter registration and casting ballots. These measures often target specific groups based on race, ethnicity, political affiliation, age, or other aspects of voters’ identities. 

What are the most widely used forms of voter suppression? 

Discriminatory voter ID and proof-of-citizenship restrictions, reduced polling place hours in communities of color, the elimination of early voting opportunities, restrictions on mail voting, and illegal purges of voters from the rolls are some of the most common forms of voter suppression.

Is there fraud in mail-in voting?

The U.S. Postal Service takes extraordinary measures to ensure secure delivery of election ballots. One conspiracy theory holds that ballots sent to deceased people are filled out by others. This is extraordinarily rare. One study of Washington State’s universal vote-by-mail program found only 0.0003% of ballots appeared to have been cast after the voter’s death. 

Are voting machines secure?

There is no evidence that voting machine manipulation has changed the outcome of a federal election. In reality, there are many guardrails to ensure security. Voting machines are tested and certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and most states require additional testing. A tabulation of paper ballots most often supplies the final assurance of accuracy.

Do undocumented people vote?

Noncitizens face criminal penalties for even trying to register to vote. Documented cases of noncitizen voting — whether intentionally or mistakenly — are very rare. One study of 42 jurisdictions found that only 0.0001% of votes were flagged as even suspected noncitizen votes. 

The prevalence of double voting is also exceptionally rare — likely considerably less than 0.02%. 

What is the real intent of voter suppression efforts? 

The aim is to gain political advantage by shrinking the voting pool, particularly to undermine the growing political power of Latinos and other communities of color. Brennan Center for Justice research finds a consistent pattern linking support for voter suppression efforts and perceptions among some white Americans that they are losing power to other racial groups. 

What is the status of voter suppression efforts at the state level? 

• At least 19 states have enacted 44 restrictive voting laws since January 2025.
• Over 40 states have considered more than 300 voter-restriction bills so far in 2026. 12 have passed.
• Unprecedented mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections has potentially made voting less representative and more partisan.
• The Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision has further weakened representation of Black and other minority voters by restricting the right to challenge racial gerrymandering.

What is the status of voter suppression efforts at the federal level? 

• The Trump administration is trying to impose restrictions on mail-in voting and voter registration through executive action. So far, federal courts have blocked these efforts. 
• 22 federal courts have rejected Trump’s efforts to obtain sensitive data in unredacted state voting rolls. 
• The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship at voter registration and a specific government photo ID at the ballot box for federal elections.
• An estimated 21 million voters don’t have ready access — or in millions of cases, access at all — to the type of documents the Save America Act would require to vote.
• House leaders are attempting to force the Senate to pass the legislation — or elements of it — in broader budget bills. 
• Voters who would suffer disproportionately negative effects are rural, lower-income, older and people with disabilities, as well as married women whose legal names differ from their birth certificate name and younger voters who may not yet have passports, driver’s licenses, or government-issued IDs.

What other tactics might be used to subvert the 2026 midterm elections?

In addition to voter restrictions, analysts are raising serious alarms that the administration could:

• Deploy federal law enforcement to polling places for the purpose of intimidation.
• Attempt to illegally invoke the Insurrection Act or other emergency executive powers.
• Try to sow doubt in election results by calling the vote fraudulent as it’s occurring or launching countless lawsuits once the results are known.
• Pressure secretaries of state, state legislatures, and other state electoral bodies to change votes in close races.

What can I do to make sure my vote is counted? 

• Research your polling location, what forms of ID you will need to vote, and seek information about early voting and voting by mail.
• If you have the option of mail voting, pay attention to deadlines. The Postal Service recommends mailing your completed ballot at least 1 week before the deadline. 
• Even if you’re registered to vote, check your status online or with your local election office. This is especially important if you’ve recently moved or changed your name.