“The recent statements by President Trump and Governor Christie about voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election are irresponsible and dangerous. If we have learned anything from this recent era of politics, it is that alternative facts simply are not facts. Here are the facts: there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud.  A leading comprehensive study of voter impersonation found only 31 incidents out of one billion ballots cast between 2000-2014.  In other words, voter fraud is extraordinarily rare.  

“But too many still invoke non-existent voter fraud to justify voter suppression tactics, the heart of which has included strict photo ID and documentary proof of citizenship requirements. These voter suppression schemes are a solution in search of a non-existent problem.

We must reject this false, divisive, and fear-inducing narrative and instead work to build an inclusive democracy that maximizes participation of our residents by exploring new frontiers for the expansion of voting rights, including universal voter registration, early voting, and freeing the vote for people with criminal convictions.”

- Ryan P. Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice