FBI warns voters ahead of US midterms 2026: How to spot suspicious election messages and report them

Misleading information about polling locations, threats against voters and attempts to interfere with ballots are among the election-related offenses the FBI wants Americans to watch for ahead of the November 2026 midterms.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) outlined several types of suspected election crimes and explained how people can report them in a report on October 15. The warning covers everything from voter fraud, illegal campaign contributions to efforts to intimidate eligible voters or prevent them from casting their ballots.

How to Tell When Election Information Looks Suspicious

Election information can spread quickly, but voters should pay attention to where it comes from and who is behind it. The FBI advises people to check the source of election-related content, verify who produced it and consider the source’s intent.


False information about when, where or how to vote is concerning when it is deliberately shared to stop eligible voters from participating. The FBI has identified intentionally misleading qualified voters about election procedures as an example of a federal election crime.

Voters can check election details through official resources, including the US Election Assistance Commission and USA.gov. Social media users who encounter posts that appear to contain false or inconsistent voting information can also use the platforms’ reporting tools where appropriate.

The Election Crimes the FBI Wants Voters to Know About

The FBI’s warning covers several categories of election-related offenses, including voter and ballot fraud, campaign finance violations, threats against election workers, and voter suppression or intimidation.

Examples include voting more than once, tampering with ballots, providing false information during voter registration and threatening voters with physical or financial harm. Offering money or something of value in exchange for a vote is another activity highlighted by the agency.

Campaign finance violations can involve contributions that exceed legal limits, donations from prohibited sources, schemes to conceal the actual donor and the misuse of campaign funds.

How to Report Suspected Election Crimes to the FBI

Anyone who suspects a federal election crime can contact a local FBI field office or submit a tip through the agency’s electronic reporting system.

The FBI recommends including relevant details when making a report. These may include the names of people, election workers or candidates involved, along with screenshots of threats concerning an election worker or polling location. Screenshots of social media posts that appear to spread false or inconsistent voting information can also help.

People who are contacted about potentially illegal campaign contributions can provide the name of the individual or company involved and its website address.