Elon Musk's PAC Under Fire Over 'Misleading' Voting Texts Sent to Colorado Voters

Elon Musk's America PAC sent Colorado voters text messages claiming their ballot requests had been received, prompting confused residents to contact election officials even though every active registered voter in the state automatically receives a mail ballot. The messages have drawn criticism from election officials in Colorado and Washington state ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.

The texts read: 'Your ballot request is in. Confirm now where and when to return it.' Some recipients questioned whether someone had submitted a request on their behalf. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold described the messages as misleading and urged voters to obtain election information from official sources. The incident has renewed scrutiny of America PAC's voter outreach as Musk commits substantial resources to Republican candidates.

Voters Contact County Election Offices

The messages targeted voters in Weld and Adams counties, according to local election officials. Carly Koppes, the Republican election chief in Weld County, north of Denver, said residents contacted her office to ask whether something suspicious had happened or whether someone had acted on their behalf. Adams County election chief Josh Zygielbaum, a Democrat, said he received about a dozen calls from voters seeking clarification. He could not establish how many people had received the texts.

Koppes explained that third-party groups routinely conduct voter outreach, but county officials do not control their wording or determine whether their messages are accurate.The available reporting does not establish that anyone submitted an unauthorised ballot request or that voters missed deadlines because of the messages.

Washington Officials Warn Against VoteSafe.org

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs also urged residents to avoid relying on VoteSafe.org, a website promoted by America PAC, and to obtain election information directly from state and local officials.

The website allows visitors to check their voter registration status and requests personal details, including telephone numbers and email addresses. Its disclosure states that users consent to receive communications from America PAC when they submit their contact information. It also warns that voting and registration information comes from third parties and may not always be accurate.

America PAC did not respond to CNN's questions about the Colorado messages. In a post on X, the group accused Washington state officials of attempting to suppress voter registration after they criticised its activities. Republican digital strategist Eric Wilson, who runs the Center for Campaign Innovation, described the outreach as standard get-out-the-vote tactics. He also praised America Pass, a feature that allows users to add ballot deadlines and early voting information to their Google or Apple digital wallets. Wilson argued that state election officials should improve how they inform and remind voters about elections.

Musk's Political Spending Targets Key Races

The controversy comes as Musk supports Republican candidates seeking to retain control of Congress during the final two years of President Donald Trump's current term. America PAC had reported spending nearly $40 million on independent expenditures in Senate and House contests as of Friday morning, according to federal election filings cited by CNN. More than $31 million had gone towards Senate races, including the Texas contest between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.

Musk had disclosed donating about $50 million to America PAC during the current election cycle, alongside another $40 million to other Republican-aligned super PACs. In Colorado, America PAC reported spending more than $228,000 on the race involving Republican Representative Gabe Evans and Democratic challenger Manny Rutinel. Independent political handicappers rate the contest as a toss-up. The spending reflects a wider campaign operation involving digital advertising, text messages, and printed materials aimed at encouraging voter participation.

Officials Urge Voters to Verify Information

The controversy highlights the distinction between campaign outreach and official election communications. Political organisations can encourage people to vote, but their messages do not replace guidance from state and county election authorities. The available reporting does not establish how many voters received the Colorado texts or whether anyone missed a deadline or experienced disruption to their vote. The documented concerns centre on confusion and requests for clarification.

Election officials have urged voters to verify registration details, ballot procedures, and deadlines directly with their state or county election office rather than rely solely on unexpected political messages.