CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is urging voters to stay vigilant as early voting began Thursday across the state. His warning comes after reports of at least three fraudulent text messages targeting Iowa voters.
State officials reported the fraudulent messages in Johnson, Franklin, and Madison counties. According to Pate, the texts, which impersonated election officials or candidates, aimed to mislead voters and sometimes asked about their voting priorities.
On the first day of early voting, poll workers noted a slow turnout: 153 people had voted at either the Linn County Auditor’s office or the Lindale Mall satellite center two hours before closing…