Newly released FBI documents show that a large number of fake voter registration forms were submitted in Muskegon, Michigan, during the 2020 election.
The files come from a multi-year FBI investigation. They were made public in July 2026 as part of a White House release of election-related materials. You can view the official collection here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/election-integrity/
What the FBI Found
In 2020, a group hired many people to collect voter registration applications in the Muskegon area. Some of these workers were paid based on how many forms they turned in.
When the FBI later examined 107 of those registration forms, the results were striking:
- 91 of the 107 names could not be found in any database. The people listed on the forms appeared not to exist.
- Only 16 names belonged to real people.
- Of those 16, only 4 had signatures that matched records on file.
What the Workers Told Investigators
Several of the people who collected the forms spoke with FBI agents. Their statements were consistent:
- They were encouraged or allowed to make up names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth.
- Some admitted they or their coworkers forged signatures.
- One worker said he was told, “You can just make up names on the form and get paid.”
- Another said supervisors instructed them to invent phone numbers and birth dates.
- Some workers said the group claimed to operate in other states.
- At least one person mentioned being told to hang “vote for Biden” fliers when they were not getting enough registrations.
How the Case Ended
The FBI investigated the matter for several years. Internal records show that the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section limited the scope of the investigation and delayed some interviews until after elections.
In September 2025, the FBI closed the case without filing charges. Officials said they had exhausted available leads and could not identify a criminal violation that met the standards required for prosecution.
Why This Matters
These documents do not prove that fake registrations changed the outcome of the 2020 election. What they do show is that a significant number of false voter registration forms were submitted by paid canvassers in a key state, and that a federal investigation into the activity was eventually closed without charges.
The files raise serious questions about the security of voter registration systems and how cases of this type are handled.
