Best Practices, Blogs Published July 1, 2026 Updated July 17, 2026

Here’s How We Know the 2020 Election Was Free, Fair, and Secure

Anti-democracy actors and Election Deniers continue to attack an election proven to be accurate by officials, data, and the courts.

Issue Areas
  • Election Protection

In This Resource

The 2020 election was one of the most secure elections in American history. State and local election officials were committed to delivering a free, fair, and accurate election for the American people in the midst of a global pandemic—and they succeeded.

But almost immediately after the final votes were cast, President Trump and his allies—upset that the election didn’t go their way—launched a coordinated campaign to spread falsehoods about the security and accuracy of the election. They lied about the safety of voting machines, mail voting, foreign interference, and voter rolls. In fact, they had been laying the groundwork for this operation for months prior to the election. The Election Denial movement has continued for six years.

Despite years of repeated lies, no court has ever found those claims—or the election conspiracy theories they’re based on—to be true, and no audit has found a trace of widespread voter fraud. Officials and organizations from across the political spectrum agree.

Now back in office, Trump has tried to abuse executive power to continue his ruse of resentment and election lies, spending federal resources on investigations into 2020 and lying repeatedly from his seat in the Oval Office. These falsehoods have real consequences: Voter confidence, free and fair elections, and the rule of law are on the line.

More recently, the president used a primetime address to lay out selectively declassified information that casted doubt on the security of the 2020 election and attacked the safety of election infrastructure, including mail voting, voting machines, and the maintenance of voter rolls. His claims were filled with election conspiracy theories that do not reflect the safety and security of our elections and the realities of how elections are run.

Defending the 2020 Election

Here are some helpful messages about the safety and security about the 2020 election:

On the 2020 Election:

See: What’s Breaking Through About the Trump Administration’s 2020 Election Investigation

  • The 2020 election was free, fair, and secure, and the results were accurate. It’s been proven time and time again.
  • There’s no evidence of wrongdoing. States ran recounts and audited results. Conspiracy theories about the 2020 election have been heard by the courts and dismissed.
  • People are ready to move on. This country needs leaders who look to the future.
  • Our election officials are busy preparing for another safe and secure election this year. Claims about 2020 are meant to distract from that important work and undermine trust in our elections.

On Foreign Interference Claims:

See: Lawfare: Five Foreign Election Conspiracy Theories Making the Rounds Again

  • Trump’s own national security officials in his first term said the 2020 election was the most secure in U.S. history. He should listen to his own former experts.
  • National security agencies at the time said that no foreign actor successfully interfered in the 2020 election. They didn’t prevent voting; they didn’t change votes; and they didn’t alter the results.
  • Now, Trump and his allies in the administration are spreading election conspiracy theories rooted in foreign interference claims to cast doubt ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

On Voting Machine Security:

See: Sharing the Facts About Voting Machines

  • Voting machines are tested, certified, and accurate. They are subject to extensive security protections and accuracy checks.
  • Voting machines go through a complex multi-year process overseen by many people to meet strict requirements before they are certified for use.
  • Election equipment is kept in secure locations year-round.
  • Before every single election, voting machines are tested thoroughly in front of bipartisan observers.
  • Americans care about an accurate vote count—that’s why we’ve trusted machines to count votes for more than a century.
States United Resources
State-Specific Resources

Arizona

Georgia

Michigan

Nevada

Pennsylvania

  • States United: The January 6 Hearings: Pennsylvania Spotlight

    Events in the state leading up to the January 6 attack, participation by Pennsylvania actors in relevant events and the attack itself, efforts in Pennsylvania to discredit or reverse the outcome of the presidential election, and subsequent post-January 6 events.

  • How Elections Work in Pennsylvania

    “Elections in Pennsylvania are run locally, with state oversight. All told, more than 45,000 election workers and officials ensure Pennsylvania’s elections are safe, secure, and accurate.”

Wisconsin

  • States United: The January 6 Hearings: Wisconsin Spotlight

    Events in the state leading up to the January 6 attack, participation by Wisconsin actors in relevant events and the attack itself, efforts in Wisconsin to discredit or reverse the outcome of the presidential election, and subsequent post-January 6 events.

  • How Elections Work in Wisconsin

    “Thousands of Wisconsinites work tirelessly to make sure your ballot can safely and securely become a vote.”

States United Polling
Additional Resources