1 in 4 voters believe millions of illegal votes were cast in the 2016 election

Demonstrators protest President Trump with signs challenging his legitimacy.

(Image credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

last updated 1 February 2017

One in four voters in the United States believe that millions of illegal votes were cast in the 2016 presidential election, despite there being a dearth of evidence that proves such claims to be true, a Politico/Morning Consult survey has found.

The allegation, most prominently promoted by President Donald Trump, suggests that several million people committed voter fraud last year; 25 percent of registered voters said they agree with these claims. But "if the election was subject to voter fraud, 35 percent say it's more likely any improper votes benefited Trump, and 30 percent say they benefited Clinton," Politico reports.

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The Politico/Morning Consult reached 1,991 registered voters between Jan. 26 and Jan. 28 and has a margin of error of 2 percent.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.