Text scam targeting Maryland voters, SBE warns

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) says a new disinformation scam is targeting the state's voters via text message.

Maryland voters have reported receiving a text that falsely claims they are not registered as voters for the 2024 election. It then urges them to click on a fraudulent website not associated with the SBE.

The text message reads:

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

Reply Stop to end. AC

“Election scams are a direct threat to the legitimacy of the electoral process," said State Administrator Jared DeMarinis. "They are designed to steal identities, sow distrust in the election administration and undermine confidence.” 

SBE has not specified who is behind the scam texts, or what number(s) they are being sent from. But the board is reminding voters that official text messages are sent from (833) 572-1128, and will only include links to official ”.gov” websites. SBE says it will never ask for personal information via text message.

For voters wanting to to check their registration status, or learn about the 2024 general election, the official SBE website can be found here. 

If you believe you have been targeted by election disinformation, you can report it to the SBE's citizen portal here.