Early voting has started in Arkansas, which means a firehose of disinformation has started to target voters.
Over the weekend, Pulaski County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth tweeted that she’d received reports of a misleading text being sent to voters. The text says that poll workers are marking the back of ballots in an effort to disqualify ballots, except that’s exactly what state law requires poll workers to do!
§7-5-309 says that a poll worker “shall initial the back of the ballot” before the voter receives it.
We haven’t heard reports of this text hitting other parts of the state, but texts like this are becoming the new chain letter. If you’re receiving a text from an unknown number that makes you afraid or angry, or is telling you to take “immediate action” of any kind, this is a scam text.
Moments of high emotion like elections are like catnip for scammers, pranksters, and people who want to spread misinformation.
If you have any questions at all about voting procedures or what to expect when you go to the polls, you have several resources at your disposal. Call your county clerk! Local public libraries often have the answers to these questions. The Secretary of State’s website has an extensive Frequently Asked Questions page, as does the Arkansas ACLU and Get Loud! Arkansas.
Don’t let bad actors steal your voice and your right to vote. Look twice, think carefully, and call your local official before you unwittingly spread misinformation.
If you see something you recognize as misinformation, let your local officials know so they can correct it as soon as possible.
