Residents are receiving texts which say they are not registered to vote in the general election.
Annapolis, Md (KM) The Maryland State Board of Elections says citizens need to be aware of a texting scam which is going around. Jared DeMarinis, the State Administrator, says some residents have received text messages which say they are not registered to vote, and they need to click on a link in order to sign up and be able to cast a ballot in the 2024 general election.
“These messages are not from the State Board of Elections,” says DeMarinis. “If we send out official text messages, it have would, of course, have a link to our official dot-gov website. And we will not ask for personal information via text messages.”
He continues: “These messages here are designed to either steal identities, maybe even sow distrust in the election administration, or undermine confidence in this election year.”
The text messages originated from the number 833-572-1128. They read as follows: “URGENT To vote in the upcoming election, you MUST be registered, but public records show you/re not registered at {voter address}. Click the link to register before the deadline
md-voter.link/4VczM.”
DeMarinis says if you’re not sure of your voter registration status, you can go to the State Board of Elections website and find out. “If you receive any information about the upcoming election or if you read about any information about the upcoming election, go to the trusted source of information which is the State Board of Elections’ website, www.elections.maryland.gov. We’re the trusted source about voter registration, and the electoral process,” he says.
He says you can also go to that website if you receive this text message, or any other suspicious text message, e-mail, phone call or other form of communication, and report it. “If you get these messages, and you want to report them to the State of Elections, we have created a portal to report election disinformation and scams such as this nature right on our website front page,” says DeMarinis.
The information received will be reviewed and investigated. DeMarinis says the Board of Elections can either correct the record, or, in some cases, turn over the information to state prosecutors to see if it “rises to level it of voter intimidation or voter suppression tactics.”
On another issue, DeMarinis says the State Board of Elections has been working hard to get ready for the general election. He says mail-in ballots are being printed, and they will sent to military and overseas voters starting on September 21st, and domestic voters on September 23rd. Once those individuals have completed their ballots, they can send them in by mail. Maryland residents who received mail-in ballots can fill them out and place them in a local drop box.
Early voting takes place from October 24th through October 31st. The polls will be open on all seven days from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.
General election day is Tuesday November 5th.
By Kevin McManus