Our office and clerks have received several complaints from Michigan voters concerned about text messages they’ve received urging them to return their absentee ballots. These messages did not come from our office. However, it is common in election years for third-party groups to send messages directly to voters either by mail, email, or text message linking to the public Secretary of State website or urging voters to return absentee ballot applications to their clerk’s office. When in doubt, voters can always go directly to our website at Michigan.gov/Vote to check their voter registration status, request an absentee ballot, or track their absentee ballot after returning it by mail or ballot drop box.

We will continue to monitor these types of communications, referring them to our Office of Investigative Services or to the Attorney General if necessary. As we get closer to November, remember that state and local election officials are the go-to source for voting information or questions about the process. If voters believe they have received targeted election misinformation, they should send the Secretary of State’s office a message at misinformation [at] Michigan.gov.