Voters in North Carolina Report Confusion Over Unsolicited Election Text Messages

ASHEBORO N.C. — The North Carolina State Board of Elections is reminding voters that they do not send out mass text messages, following numerous complaints about unsolicited voting-related messages ahead of the upcoming election. 

Election officials say they’ve received numerous complaints from voters about unsolicited text messages claiming that a voter at their address "may not have cast a ballot" and providing a link to a state-run website for early voting sites. While the website linked in the messages is legitimate, officials confirmed that the texts are not from the State Board of Elections. In a press release, the board emphasized that they “do not send out mass text messages to voters about any topic.”

Officials noted that questions and complaints about these types of unsolicited messages have been common this election season, and are likely to continue through Election Day on November 5. The messages from political and advocacy groups who are seeking to drive voter turnout, while typically legal, can cause confusion or frustration, 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. She encouraged voters to rely on trusted sources, such as the State Board and county boards of elections, for accurate information about voting.

Political and advocacy groups often obtain phone numbers from public sources or purchase data from data brokers, then use that information to contact voters and encourage them to vote. However, the data used by these organizations can sometimes be incorrect or outdated. For example, you may receive a message claiming you haven't voted, even though you already have.
Officials remind voters not to attempt voting again if they receive such messages, as voting twice is a crime. If you receive a message or email that you believe to be fraudulent or is providing inaccurate information about voting, you can report it by sending a screenshot and relevant details to the State Board of Elections at elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov for investigation.

Officials also urge voters to make sure they are getting accurate information directly from state and county election officials. The State Board of elections website is NCSBE.gov, and the Randolph County Board of Elections can be found at: https://www.randolphcountync.gov/463/Board-of-Elections

Early voting is currently available statewide in North Carolina, and eligible voters can register at any early voting location. In Randolph County five early voting locations will be open every day through Nov. 2nd.