Republicans have long targeted ActBlue for one reason: they want to undermine the grassroots infrastructure that fuels the Democratic Party’s campaigns and mission-aligned causes. President Trump and his allies have gone to unprecedented lengths to target ActBlue and other organizations they believe threaten their agenda.
As part of these investigations, ActBlue described to Congress how it protected the donation process — including special steps for American citizens living abroad, like military service members, students studying overseas, diplomats, and others. ActBlue explained in a 2023 letter that under our policies at the time:
- Donors who entered a foreign address could not submit a contribution form without providing a U.S. passport number; and
- ActBlue’s compliance team actively checked for people who entered a foreign address but erroneously selected “United States,” then followed up to obtain a passport number.
In April, relying on flawed media reporting, Congressional Republicans falsely alleged that ActBlue hadn’t taken these steps, leading to an onslaught of unfounded attacks.
Over the past several months, ActBlue’s team worked with a respected third party to conduct the first forensic review of ActBlue’s contribution data and compliance records to assess the Republicans’ accusations that they were somehow misled. The results completely debunk the claims made against us.
Here are the Facts, Backed by Data
- Nearly every dollar donated in 2023 came from an American. Out of almost $990 million in political contributions, 99.99% came from donors who provided ActBlue a U.S. address or a passport number. That means the system built to protect the integrity of your donations is doing its job. Of the remaining 0.01%, the vast majority was given by donors who provided either a passport number or a domestic address with another contribution. The system worked–ActBlue’s fundraising platform protected the integrity of the U.S. election system.
- Donations from abroad are incredibly rare to begin with. Only 0.13% of all 2023 political contribution dollars came from Americans living abroad. The overwhelming majority, 99.87%, came from donors with a domestic address.
- When something looked off, ActBlue followed up. ActBlue’s compliance team regularly analyzed reports to find the rare contributions where a donor had selected “United States” but entered what looked like a foreign address. In the fourth quarter of 2023, out of 1.9 million unique addresses, the forensic review identified only 36 donors who made such a contribution, and they gave just $3,136. Records confirm that when ActBlue’s compliance team found such a donor, its policy was to reach out to get a passport number.
- Donations were processed through a system that works. Donors who provided a foreign address on a contribution form were required to provide a U.S. passport number, regardless of how they paid. Contrary to the Republicans’ false accusations, donors living abroad who contributed using Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal were required to provide passport numbers. In fact, passport number collection rates were higher for contributions made using those payment methods than with credit cards–and the exceptions were incredibly rare.
Last week, ActBlue representatives briefed congressional staffers and shared a formal letter and white paper with the House Judiciary, Oversight, and Administration Committees detailing these findings.
Read more in the Washington Post: The Democratic fundraising machine under GOP investigation is fighting back
“The time has come for our Republican colleagues to shut down this baseless and weaponized investigation.”
Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Why This Matters
This isn’t a minor technical dispute. Our donors give to candidates and causes through ActBlue because they trust their money will arrive safely. They want to know whether the platform they rely on is honest about how it operates.
The answer is unequivocally, and unapologetically yes.
The data confirmed what we’ve said all along: No other platform does more to protect the integrity of small-dollar democracy — regardless of party. Grassroots donors are the backbone of ActBlue’s mission to make political giving accessible to everyone, not just wealthy donors and PACs. When ActBlue’s integrity is challenged based on flawed reporting, it is incumbent on us to correct the record and provide the truth.
The system you’re supporting has been tested, and it holds up.
Read the full text of ActBlue’s letter and white paper to the House Committees.
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