Simone Lawson
Political campaigns are increasingly relying on text messages to reach voters, and during election season, it is common to experience an influx of such messages. While this is an effective strategy for campaigns, it can be overwhelming and frustrating for recipients. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the number of political text messages you receive. In this article, we will discuss the methods you can use to limit these messages and protect your personal information. We will also explore the tactics employed by political campaigns to acquire phone numbers and how they may have obtained yours in the first place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opting out of receiving texts | Reply with "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, or “CANCEL” |
| Reporting spam | Forward the text to 7726 or "SPAM" |
| Blocking spam | Adjust phone settings to filter out unknown senders |
| Reporting non-compliance with FCC rules | File an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints |
| Reducing the number of spam texts | Register your phone through the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call registry |
| How political campaigns obtain phone numbers | Voter registration records, data brokers, online polls, merchandise sales, donations, signing up for something, and list swapping |
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What You'll Learn
Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry
Firstly, it is important to understand how political campaigns acquire your phone number. In the US, political parties and campaigns have access to voter registration records, which often include phone numbers and other demographic details. These records are maintained by state and local governments and are considered public information. Campaigns can also use data brokers who collect and sell consumer data, including voter information, to create detailed voter profiles. This means that by registering to vote, your information becomes available to campaigns. Additionally, if you are affiliated with a political party or voting-related organization, you may have unknowingly provided your consent to receive text messages.
To reduce the number of unwanted political texts, you can try to revoke your consent. For commercial texts, consent must be in writing, while for non-commercial texts, oral consent is sufficient. If you did not provide consent, you can ask the campaign to remove you from their contact list. Most campaigns use texting software that automatically removes individuals who reply with keywords like "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL". Additionally, you can report unwanted texts as spam by forwarding the message to 7726, which can prompt an investigation and potentially block the sender.
It is worth noting that scam text messages are harder to stop. If you suspect a number is from a scammer, it is recommended to block and report the number, as replying may indicate to them that your number is active. Legitimate companies that violate the rules can face fines, but scammers are less likely to abide by regulations. To further reduce unwanted messages, you can adjust your phone settings to filter out unknown senders or use third-party call-blocking services.
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How political campaigns acquire phone numbers
Political campaigns can acquire phone numbers through various means, and there are rules in place to govern how they can use this data. In the US, political parties and campaigns have access to voter registration records, which often include voters' phone numbers and other demographic details. These records are typically maintained by state and local governments and are considered public information.
Additionally, campaigns may obtain phone numbers by purchasing them from data brokers who specialise in collecting and selling consumer data. These brokers compile large databases that aggregate publicly available data, such as voter registration lists, consumer purchases, and social media activity, allowing campaigns to create detailed voter profiles for targeted outreach.
It's also possible that individuals unknowingly provide their phone numbers to political organisations. This could happen through activities such as signing up for information, making a purchase, or participating in an online poll. There are various national rules and state laws governing list swapping among companies and fundraising organisations, as well as data privacy laws at different levels.
During an election season, it is common to see an increase in calls and texts from political campaigns. While campaign calls and texts are generally exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, they must comply with specific rules outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior express consent, while political robocalls to landlines are allowed without prior consent, with some exceptions. Individuals who no longer wish to receive such communications can reply with "STOP" or report the sender by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM".
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How to opt out of receiving political texts
Political campaigns are required to obtain your consent before sending automated messages, and they must respect your opt-out requests. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules they must follow.
- Reply "STOP" to the text. By law, campaigns must honor opt-out requests if you reply "STOP". Once you opt out, you should not receive any further messages from that campaign, not just from the specific number you replied to.
- After replying "STOP", block the number. You can also go to the \"messages\" settings on your phone and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list.
- If you are receiving texts that you didn't ask for, you can report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM".
- If you think you've received a political text that does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. You can also mail your complaint to the Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554.
- Register your phone number through the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call registry. While candidates and campaigns are exempt from the protections it offers, it is still worth registering as it may help to slow down the number of texts received.
- Be cautious when using your phone number. It is possible that you gave consent for these texts without realizing it. If you have used your number in any type of online ordering, marketing, or social media platform, you may have unknowingly agreed to share your phone number with other service providers.
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How to report spam political texts
Political campaigns are required to obtain your consent before sending automated messages, and they must respect your opt-out requests when you reply with "STOP". However, there is no single way that people end up on a list to receive campaign texts. You may have given money at some point, signed up for something without realizing that you were giving your number to a political organization, or filled out an online poll.
If you are receiving spam political texts, you can report them by forwarding the text to 7726 (or "SPAM"). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future. You can also report it on the messaging app you use by looking for the option to report junk or spam.
If you think you've received a political robocall or text that does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. You can also do this by mail; please include your name, address, contact information, and as much detail about your complaint as possible:
Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554
Additionally, you can register your phone number through the National Do Not Call Registry by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). However, candidates and campaigns are exempt from the protections it offers.
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How to identify scam political texts
With the 2024 election approaching, scammers are taking advantage of political passion by tricking people into handing over their personal information or money. Here are some ways to identify scam political texts:
Check for links
Scam political texts often contain links that, when clicked, bring you to a page offering prizes for participating in a poll. However, to receive the prize, you are required to enter your credit card information. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Check for prior consent
Political campaigns are required to obtain your consent before sending automated messages. In general, robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent. However, political robocalls to landlines are allowed without prior consent. If you are receiving texts that you didn't ask for, they may be scams.
Check the sender's authenticity
Sometimes bad actors impersonate legitimate campaigns or candidates and urge recipients to take immediate action without verifying the sender's authenticity. If you don’t think a campaign text is legitimate, report it as spam by forwarding the message to 7726.
Check for unsolicited texts
If you receive an unsolicited text, do not respond. Instead, reach out to your local election offices or the campaign directly through a verified phone number or email address.
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Frequently asked questions
To stop receiving political text messages, reply with the word "STOP". This is an FCC regulation that campaigns must follow. If they do not, they can face fines of over $50,000 per call.
There are many ways you may have ended up on a list to receive campaign texts. You may have given money to a campaign or signed up for something without realizing that you were giving your number to a political organization. It might also be through a merchandise sale or if you fill out an online poll. Registering to vote also sends your voter information to your state, which becomes public information that campaigns can access.
If you suspect the number is from a scammer and not a campaign, it is better to block and report the number. Replying to a scammer lets them know that your number is real.
Campaigns can obtain phone numbers by leveraging extensive databases and digital tools designed to gather and utilize voter contact information. In the U.S., political parties and campaigns have access to voter registration records, which commonly include voters' phone numbers along with other demographic details.
No, candidates and campaigns are exempt from "Do Not Call" lists. However, they must follow certain FCC restrictions when reaching out.
