By Joseph Ax
(Reuters) - Virginia's Republican attorney general on Friday announced the formation of an "election integrity unit" within his office that will investigate alleged voter fraud cases, part of a broader effort by Republicans in the wake of former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Attorney General Jason Miyares, who took office in January after being elected last year, said the new unit includes more than 20 attorneys, investigators and paralegals from his office.
Voter fraud is extremely rare in the United States, according to researchers who have documented such cases. But polls show millions of Republican voters believe Trump's false claims of widespread voting fraud in the 2020 election that cost him the presidency.
Democrats have accused Republicans in various states of pursuing policies to suppress the turnout of Democratic voters. Republicans have said their actions are intended to ensure election integrity.
Republican lawmakers in Florida and Georgia this year passed measures giving law enforcement more authority to pursue election fraud claims. Democrats and voting rights groups have criticized those moves, saying such investigators could intimidate voters and make it harder to cast ballots.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had pushed legislators in his state to create a new elections police unit, announced that 20 people were facing voter fraud charges after an investigation. DeSantis, like Trump, is...
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