Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Every election week brings a wave of messages built around it, and some of them land on work phones and work email. I'll keep this short: here's what to expect, and the rule I'd give your staff today.
Texts about your polling place
A text says your polling place has changed, or that there's a problem with your registration, and offers a link to fix it. The link leads to a page that asks for your name, address, date of birth and sometimes a driver's license number. That's everything someone needs to open accounts in your name.
If you didn't sign up for text alerts from your county, a text about your polling place didn't come from them. Check it yourself at VoteOhio.gov, the Ohio Secretary of State's site.
Fundraising emails that aren't from the campaign
Political fundraising email is heavy this week, and copycats ride along with it. The message uses a real candidate's name and asks for a donation before a deadline. The payment page takes a card number and the money goes nowhere near a campaign.
On a work account there's a second problem. Anyone who replies or clicks confirms the address is real, and that address gets more of everything afterward. I'd ask staff to keep political email off work accounts entirely, whoever it's from.
Look-alike voter information pages
Ads and search results for "check my registration" or "where do I vote" can point to sites that copy the state's look. They ask for the same personal details as the texts above. The real sites end in .gov, and for Ohio voters that's VoteOhio.gov.
Calls with a familiar voice
A recorded call can sound like someone you know or someone on the ballot. It might say the polls are crowded and to come back Wednesday, or that you can vote by text. Voices are easy to fake now. You can't vote by text or by phone in Ohio, and Election Day doesn't move.
The rule I'd give your staff
Get election information only from your county board of elections or VoteOhio.gov, typed in yourself. Not from a link in a text, an email, an ad or a call.
Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. If you're short-staffed that day, sort out coverage now so people can get to the polls.
If something lands this week that you're not sure about, don't click it. Clients can send it to us through the client portal or call the service desk at 440.210.1362, and we'll take a look. Let me know if you have any questions.