California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has issued a warning about “inaccurate” text messages suggesting that ballots for the state’s special election on redistricting have not been counted. These messages, reportedly sent by a group called Ballot Now, are misleading voters into thinking their ballots have not been processed by county election officials. Weber clarified that Ballot Now is not affiliated with her office or any local election officials.
In a statement, Weber emphasized, “Our office has received numerous reports from voters that they have received inaccurate text messages from Ballot Now.” She advised voters to rely on official sources for accurate information about their ballots, such as the secretary of state’s website or county registrars’ offices. Voters can track their ballot status through california.ballottrax.net or check their voter status at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. For additional concerns, voters can contact the secretary of state’s toll-free voter hotline at 800-345-8683.
Weber’s office is investigating the origin and intent behind these misleading texts. The California attorney general’s office has not yet commented on whether it is investigating the matter. This incident is part of a broader effort by Weber to address misinformation during the election. Earlier this month, she clarified the purpose of small holes in vote-by-mail ballot envelopes, which are meant to assist visually impaired voters, not to manipulate the election outcome.
The special election, which began earlier this month and runs through Tuesday, Election Day, asks voters to decide on Proposition 50. This measure would adopt new congressional maps mid-decade, potentially allowing Democrats to gain five additional U.S. House seats. The proposed changes aim to counter gerrymandering efforts in other states. More than 5.5 million Californians have already cast their ballots, according to the secretary of state’s office.
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