What is “voter fraud” and how is it addressed?

Voter fraud is when someone participates in an election knowing that they are not eligible to vote. Examples of voter fraud include a person voting twice, casting a vote on behalf of another person, or voting in the wrong place or district. In Massachusetts, voter fraud is taken very seriously. The state has a comprehensive voter registration database that is used to verify a voter’s identity and eligibility. Anyone found to have committed voter fraud can be prosecuted for a criminal offense. In addition to the criminal penalties, Massachusetts also has civil penalties for voter fraud. For example, if a person attempts to vote unlawfully, their vote will not be counted and they may be fined up to $5,000. Massachusetts also has a number of preventative measures in place to help protect against potential voter fraud. For example, all registered voters must show valid identification when they vote at a polling place. The state also requires that all absentee ballots be witnessed by two people and requires that all absentee ballots be received by the appropriate election office. In short, voter fraud is a serious offense and Massachusetts takes it very seriously. The state has a number of measures in place to help prevent voter fraud and to punish those who are caught trying to commit it.

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