‘Election Misinformation’ Texts Sent To NJ Residents: State Official

NEW JERSEY - A top election official in New Jersey is warning residents about misinformation that recently spread via text messages to voters across the state.

“Text messages containing election misinformation are being sent to some NJ voters,” Secretary of State Tahesha Way said in a statement Monday. “Election officials are the best source for election info. Voters should visit http://vote.nj.gov to verify voter registration and polling location before voting in the 2022 election.”

Way’s warning comes as New Jersey residents report confusing messages from a group called Voting Futures Trust, which sent misleading texts regarding voting locations to voters in Kansas, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia.

Election officials in California, Oregon and other states have also condemned the misinformed messages.

Text consulting firm Resistance Labs issued a statement Monday apologizing, adding that the messages were sent on behalf of Voto Latino, Black Voters Matter as well as Voting Futures.

“We take full responsibility for these mistakes and have issued correction texts,” the firm said in a statement. “In some of our texts, we sent addresses and images of drop-box locations when we intended only to include in-person early vote locations. We didn’t specify in our text that we were trying to encourage voters to vote early. Some voters familiar with their election day location thought we were telling them to vote on election day at an early vote location.”

New Jersey residents with additional concerns can call the state voter information and protection hotline at 1-877-NJ-VOTER.

In-person early voting is now underway through Nov. 6, with early voting sites open through 8 p.m. on most days. No appointment is necessary. To find your voting location, click here.