Omar Bennett
If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, you're not alone. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, Americans are bracing for an influx of campaign-related texts. While registering with a political party or voting-related organization might have granted consent for these texts, there are ways to opt out. According to the FCC, replying with “STOP” should prompt legitimate organizations to remove you from their contact lists. Additionally, you can block numbers, change phone settings to filter unknown senders, or report unsolicited texts by forwarding them to 7726 or SPAM.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements | Yes |
| Political campaign robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent | Yes |
| Political campaign-related autodialed or pre-recorded voice calls are prohibited to cell phones without prior consent | Yes |
| Political campaign-related autodialed or pre-recorded voice calls are permitted when made to landline telephones without prior consent | Yes |
| Political text messages sent to a mobile phone using an auto-dialer require prior express consent | Yes |
| Messages sent manually can be sent without prior consent | Yes |
| Report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 (SPAM) | Yes |
| Campaigns should honor opt-out requests if you reply "STOP" | Yes |
| File an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints | Yes |
| Change phone settings to filter out all unknown senders | Yes |
Explore related products
![Warning Sign Stop Symbol [Custom Text] Sign Road Sign Business Sign 12X8 Inches Aluminum Metal Tin Sign](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IRpvmiZ0L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Indian Shelf Ceramic Wine Stopper | Text Wine Corks | Decorative Wine Stoppers [Black, 2 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Q-BHFRe-L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Reply with STOP to be removed from the list
It's that time of year again: election season. As local, state, and prominent politicians compete for your vote, you may find yourself receiving an increasing number of text messages from candidates and causes you didn't even know had your phone number. These unwanted texts can be frustrating, especially when they fill up your inbox and make it harder to find messages from people and organizations you want to hear from.
If you're tired of receiving political text messages, there's an easy way to stop them. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), legitimate text campaign operators should remove you from their contact list if you simply reply with "STOP." This is because, in most cases, campaigns need to have your prior consent to send you text messages, and they are required to honor your request to revoke that consent. So, if you're registered with a political party or affiliated with a voting-related organization, they should remove you from their list when you send them this keyword.
It's important to note that this method may not work if the number is from a scammer instead of a legitimate campaign. In that case, blocking and reporting the number may be a better option, as replying to a scammer could indicate that your number is active. Additionally, if you believe you've received a political text that doesn't comply with FCC rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC on their website.
To reduce the number of unwanted texts in your inbox, you can also consider changing your phone settings to filter out unknown senders. However, this may cause you to miss important text reminders for appointments or reservations. Ultimately, while you may not be able to stop all political texts, taking these steps can help you gain back some control over your inbox.
Kamala Harris: Still Running and Future Plans?
You may want to see also
Report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726
If you are tired of receiving political text messages, you can take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. During the 2020 presidential election, Americans received over 13 billion text messages related to campaigns. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules that they must follow. For instance, political text messages sent to a mobile phone using an autodialer require the called party's prior express consent. 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 the sender is using texting software, they should remove you from their contact list once you send them a special keyword, such as "STOP," "STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL." If you suspect the number is from a scammer and not a campaign, it is better to block and report the number because replying to a scammer lets them know your number is real. Scammers often try to trick you into giving them your personal information, such as your password, account number, or Social Security number. They may also try to get you to click on links in text messages by offering you free prizes, gift cards, or coupons, or by promising a low or no-interest credit card.
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. Call blocking is a tool used by phone companies to stop illegal and unwanted calls from reaching your phone. Many phone companies enable their customers to block additional unwanted calls by enrolling in a service or installing an app. For example, Google offers the Phone by Google app to help customers avoid unwanted calls from spammers, telemarketers, and scammers, and Google Voice users can block unwanted spam calls. Samsung offers a similar call-blocking solution called Smart Call.
Minors, Politics, and Donations: Legal or Not?
You may want to see also
Change your phone settings to filter out unknown senders
If you're receiving unwanted text messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can block contacts and phone numbers on your device. You can also filter iMessages from unknown senders and report iMessages that look like spam or junk.
To filter iMessages, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, scroll down and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. In Messages, tap Filters, then tap Unknown Senders. You won't get notifications for these messages. You can report iMessages that look like spam or junk from the Messages app. If you get an iMessage from someone who's not saved in your Contacts, you'll see a Report Junk link under the message. Tap the link to forward the sender's information and the message to Apple, and then tap Delete and Report Junk.
If you're receiving SMS or MMS messages (green bubbles), these messages are coming through your wireless carrier. You can still block these messages, but if you are receiving a lot of them, you will need to contact your wireless carrier for ways to address the issue.
For Android users, you can enable Block calls from unknown numbers to make sure that only people in your contacts can reach you. If there's a specific number you'd like to block, enter it into the text box and hit the plus symbol. You can also use third-party apps to block texts from unknown numbers.
Texas Policy: Business Influence and Power Dynamics
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Avoid giving out your phone number to political organisations
Political text messages can be overwhelming, especially during election season. While it may be impossible to avoid all political texts, there are several steps you can take to reduce the number of unwanted messages you receive. Here are some tips to avoid giving out your phone number to political organisations:
- Be cautious when providing your phone number: Before providing your phone number to any organisation, carefully read through their privacy policy or terms and conditions. Look for statements regarding the sharing or selling of personal information to third parties. If you are unsure, consider refraining from providing your phone number or giving out an alternative contact method, such as an email address.
- Review your affiliations and registrations: If you are registered with a political party or affiliated with voting-related organisations, you may have unknowingly given them permission to contact you via text. Review any agreements or privacy policies associated with these affiliations to understand how they handle your personal information, including your phone number. If necessary, revoke your consent for them to use your phone number for promotional or communication purposes.
- Opt-out directly with the source: If you start receiving unwanted political text messages, reply with the word "STOP," ""STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL." Legitimate political campaigns should honour your request and remove you from their contact list. You can also block the number to prevent further messages.
- Protect your voter information: When you register to vote, your information becomes public and accessible to political campaigns. Consider using a separate phone number or email address when registering to vote to keep your personal contact information private. Alternatively, you can request that your voter information be kept confidential or suppressed from public records. Contact your local election office for more information on confidentiality options.
- Avoid sweepstakes and direct marketing: Sweepstakes and direct marketing campaigns often collect personal information, including phone numbers, to sell to third parties for marketing purposes. Be cautious when participating in giveaways or contests, and review their privacy policies before providing any contact information. You can also register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry, which allows you to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls and texts from businesses. While political campaigns are exempt from this registry, it can help reduce unwanted commercial solicitations.
By following these steps, you can better control who has access to your phone number and reduce the likelihood of receiving unwanted political text messages.
Kamala Harris' Property Portfolio: Private Homes and Public Office
You may want to see also
Report scams and block numbers
Political text messages can be a nuisance, especially during election season. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, you can take several steps to limit the number of political texts you receive.
First, you can revoke consent at any time by replying "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, or “CANCEL” to the text. Campaigns should honor opt-out requests. If they do not, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at fcc.gov/complaints.
Second, if you suspect that the number sending you texts is from a scammer and not a campaign, it is better to block and report the number. Do not reply to the text, as this lets the sender know that your number is real. Instead, forward the text to 7726 ("SPAM") to report it as spam. Your carrier will then investigate the sender to determine if they are a known spammer. You can also report scam texts to the FCC, especially if they are sending false information or asking for money on an unknown site.
Third, you can limit the number of political texts you receive by being cautious about providing your phone number and consenting to receive texts. When you register to vote, your voter information becomes public, and campaigns and voting organizations can access and use this information to send you text messages. If you are registered with a political party or affiliated with a voting-related organization, you may have unknowingly given them permission to text you about upcoming campaigns. Be aware of text message opt-ins when entering your phone number online.
Where Does Campaign Money Go?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
To stop receiving unwanted political text messages, you can reply with the word "STOP". According to the FCC, legitimate organizations should honor such opt-out requests. If you suspect the number is from a scammer, it is better to block and report the number. You can also change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders.
If you are registered with a political party or affiliated with a voting-related organization, you may have provided your phone number and given them permission to send you texts about upcoming campaigns.
You can go to your phone's "messages" settings and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list. However, this may cause you to miss text reminders for appointments or reservations.
You can report texts that you didn't ask for by forwarding them to 7726 or "SPAM".
You can choose to ignore these texts, or if you want to donate, go directly to the candidate's official website.
