As claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election continue to circulate, it’s crucial to revisit the facts and the legal findings that have emerged. Central to this review is the role of the U.S. Supreme Court and the numerous audits and investigations—often conducted by Republican officials—that have repeatedly affirmed the integrity of the election results. No amount of political posturing or unfounded rhetoric can change the legal reality: the 2020 election was free, fair, and legitimate (Brennan Center for Justice; Wikipedia).
In the aftermath of the election, Trump’s legal team, along with several Republican attorneys general, filed multiple lawsuits, claiming widespread fraud in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and a number of these lawsuits were filed in courts where the judges had been appointed by Trump himself. Many believed that with the Supreme Court’s conservative majority (three justices appointed by President Trump), these cases might gain traction. But the Court’s decisions tell a different story (Brennan Center for Justice; Wikipedia).
Since 2020, the Supreme Court has ruled on various election-related cases, though none have exposed any significant issues with the 2020 results. One notable case, Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021), addressed Arizona’s voting restrictions, focusing on two key provisions: a law requiring out-of-precinct ballots to be discarded and a policy prohibiting third-party ballot collection. The Court upheld these provisions, ruling that they did not violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). In doing so, the Court emphasized the importance of well-defined election laws and the need to balance voting accessibility with preventing fraud (Justia Law; Wikipedia).
While the Brnovich decision reinforced the state’s authority to implement election laws, it did not uncover any problems with the 2020 election’s fairness or accuracy. Instead, the case highlighted the Court’s focus on ensuring clear voting regulations—something already reflected in the smooth functioning of the 2020 election (Oyez; Brennan Center for Justice).
Beyond the Supreme Court’s rulings, Republican-led audits and investigations in key states like Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin have reaffirmed the 2020 election results.
Georgia, a state controlled by Republicans, became a focal point for allegations of fraud due to its close margin. In response, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, ordered a full hand recount of all 5 million ballots. This hand recount confirmed no widespread fraud, and Biden’s victory was upheld. Despite political pressure from Trump, including phone calls urging Raffensperger to “find” votes, Raffensperger remained committed to the truth, stating unequivocally that the election was fair and accurate (Wikipedia; Rev).
Arizona underwent an extensive audit, initiated by the Republican-controlled state Senate and conducted by the Cyber Ninjas firm, which had ties to Trump supporters. After three months of reviewing the results, the audited recount found that Biden’s margin of victory actually increased by 360 votes. This was a clear repudiation of the fraud claims circulating in Arizona and across the country, considering this audit itself was made by a Republican sided partisan organization (Wikipedia; Check Your Fact).
In Wisconsin, a Republican-requested investigation led by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman was conducted to review claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Gableman’s investigation, which lasted over a year, raised procedural concerns but found no evidence of widespread fraud capable of altering the election’s outcome. Various reviews, including recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties, confirmed Joe Biden’s win in the state. Ultimately, Gableman’s investigation cost taxpayers over $1 million and failed to substantiate any significant claims of fraud (WPR; Wisconsin Watch).
At the federal level, the Department of Justice conducted its own thorough investigation into fraud claims under then-Attorney General William Barr, who was a staunch Trump supporter. After weeks of scrutiny, Barr stated in December 2020: “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election.” His statement, based on reviews by the FBI and the DOJ, further debunked claims of fraud (National Review).
Claim: Dominion machines flipped votes from Trump to Biden.
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Claim: Thousands of dead people cast ballots, particularly in Pennsylvania and Georgia.
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Claim: Election workers were caught on video pulling out hidden ballots from under tables.
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Since the 2020 election, both Republican and Democratic officials have collaborated to further improve election security, focusing on absentee ballot processing and cybersecurity. This bipartisan effort is aimed at enhancing an already secure system rather than correcting any specific flaws from 2020. These efforts include steps like strengthening the resilience of election infrastructure, improving the security of electronic voting systems, and tackling potential cyber threats.
Notably, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other federal agencies have consistently reaffirmed that the 2020 election was one of the most secure in U.S. history, and officials continue to enhance protections moving forward. Both parties remain united in the view that the election was conducted fairly and securely, reflecting a bipartisan consensus that extends beyond political divides (Brennan Center for Justice; Bipartisan Policy Center; Belfer Center; CISA).
As conservatives, our values hinge on the principles of truth, law, and accountability. The facts—from Republican-led audits, federal investigations, and rulings by a conservative Supreme Court—are clear: the 2020 election was fair, transparent, and legitimate.
Clinging to debunked claims of fraud does not strengthen our movement; it only weakens our credibility, and undermines the rule of law that we, as conservatives, hold dear. The path forward is not in continuing to challenge the 2020 election, but in ensuring future elections are secure and fair for all.
By accepting the truth of the 2020 election, we can now refocus our energy on the principles that matter—limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberties. The election wasn’t stolen, our strength lies in acknowledging the facts, and moving forward with integrity.