Election officials across North Carolina are fielding numerous complaints from voters about unsolicited text messages they are receiving that state: “A voter at [residential address] may not have voted. Vote here: [website address].”
The website listed on these messages is the State Board of Elections’ Early Voting Site Search, which provides county-by-county early voting sites and schedules. However, the State Board of Elections does not send out mass text messages to voters about any topic.
This election season, election officials have received many questions and complaints from voters about these and other unsolicited messages. This is not unusual. They are likely to continue through Election Day, Nov. 5.
Such efforts typically are legal, but they can be confusing or frustrating for voters, especially when they are unsolicited.
“While we know these communications may be annoying or confusing, the purpose of most of them is to encourage voters to exercise their right to vote,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “Elections officials share that goal and encourage voters to seek out trusted sources, including the State Board and county boards of elections, for direct, accurate information about voting.”
Below are a few tips and information for voters who receive text messages and other unsolicited communications about elections and voting:
- Get accurate information about elections from state and county election officials. The State Board’s website is ncsbe.gov.
- In-person early voting is available now statewide. You can also register to vote at any early voting site. For locations and hours in your county, see the Early Voting Site Search.
- The State Board of Elections and county boards of elections do not send text messages asking you to vote. They often come from political or advocacy groups.
- Such communications have become a common get-out-the-vote tool for political organizations. They obtain phone numbers from public or private sources, and then reach out to voters to encourage them to vote. Sometimes their data is incorrect or outdated. For example, a text message may claim that you haven’t voted when, in fact, you voted a day before receiving the text.
- If you receive election-related text messages that you believe may be fraudulent, a scam, or provide inaccurate information about how, when or where to vote, please send an email with a screenshot, along with any other pertinent information, to elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov.
- Do not attempt to vote again if you get a text message saying you have not yet voted when you know you have already voted. Groups sending these texts may not be using up-to-date information about your vote. Voting twice in an election is a crime.
- For guidance regarding political texts and robocalls and information about how to file a complaint, see the Federal Communications Commission’s Rules for Political Campaign Calls and Texts.