The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

DES MOINES — Voters in at least three Iowa counties have received text messages impersonating local government officials and candidates, the state’s top elections official said Wednesday.

The text messages claim to survey residents about local issues and ask the recipient for a text response. The messages are not authentic and were not sent by the officials or candidates named, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Wednesday.

The misleading texts have been confirmed in three counties thus far: Franklin, Johnson, and Madison, Pate said.

No such texts have been reported to either the Linn County Sheriff’s or Auditors offices, Sheriff Brian Gardner and Auditor Todd Taylor said Wednesday.

Iowa

See Full Page