Trump offers $1 million for ‘voter fraud’ evidence: Why now, before US midterms?

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has announced a $1 million reward for evidence of voter fraud in past elections and the upcoming 2026 midterm polls. The reward will be paid only after the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

He made the announcement in a post on Truth Social while reiterating his allegations of irregularities in the US electoral process.

"Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud! Thank you for your attention to this matter," he wrote.

Trump made the offer ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of both chambers of the US Congress and influence his legislative agenda for the next two years.

Why midterm elections are important

The elections take place halfway through a US president's four-year term. Voters will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate, along with several state and local offices across the country.

The results will determine the balance of power in Congress and influence how easily the Trump administration can advance its legislative agenda. The party controlling each chamber has considerable influence over legislation, government spending and congressional investigations.

The elections also serve as a measure of public support for the incumbent president and his administration. The outcome can affect the political calculations of both parties ahead of the next presidential election.

Trump made the offer as Republicans prepare to defend their congressional seats while voters face economic difficulties and the president's approval ratings fall. The results will offer an indication of how voters view his presidency as the administration approaches the second half of its term.

Trump's approval rating

A September poll by The Wall Street Journal puts Trump's approval rating at 37 per cent, the lowest for a president approaching midterm elections in the publication's polling history, which dates back to 1990.

The poll result adds to the challenges facing Republicans as they seek to retain control of the Congress. The party's performance will determine the legislative room available to the president for the remainder of his term.

Voters across the country will elect members of the Congress on November 3, and the results will determine the administration's priorities and the balance of political power in Washington.