In collaboration with Attorney General Charity Clark, Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas shared a new webpage and two PSA videos on Oct. 9 to warn voters about disinformation and scams they may encounter this election season.
“Election season is when we come together to engage with our communities and advocate for the visions and values we want to see from the federal to the local level,” said Secretary Copeland Hanzas. “Unfortunately, we also see malicious efforts during this time to take advantage of voters, either with misleading and fake information or with direct scams.”
Copeland Hanzas and Clark’s webpage addresses the rising influence of “deepfakes” — images, videos, or audio generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) that seem realistic but are fake.
“Deepfakes make it difficult to distinguish between what is true and what isn’t, which can spread doubt and confusion. This is, of course, a threat to our democratic process, and it’s why I’m working with the AG’s Office to share helpful tips about how to spot and avoid these efforts,” said Secretary Copeland Hanzas.
The webpage, a collaboration of both offices, also describes three kinds of election-season scams, with tips for how to stay away from them. The page describes voter registration scams, political donation scams, and fake surveys/petitions/polls, with best practices for protecting one’s information and links to helpful official resources.
“Scammers prey on our emotions and election season is no different. Beware of scammers trying to get your money or your personal information by telling you there is an urgent problem with your voter registration, or convincing you to click on an unfamiliar, unsolicited link,” said Attorney General Clark. “If you or someone you love have encountered any of these scams, contact my office’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 or AGO.CAP@vermont.gov. We are here to help.”
For more info, visit: sos.vermont.gov/elections.
