Isabella Carter
Political mailers are a common source of frustration for many people. These mailers are often seen as junk mail and can be never-ending, especially during election seasons. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to stopping political mailers, there are a few things you can try to reduce the amount of political mail you receive. In this article, we will explore the different methods you can use to opt out of receiving political mailers and protect your personal information from ending up in the hands of political organizations. We will also discuss the challenges and limitations of opting out, as well as provide tips for dealing with the influx of political mail during election years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opting out of data-broker databases | Sign up with a professional data-removal service like DeleteMe |
| Opting out of direct mail | Register at the Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA) website DMAchoice.org |
| Opting out of prescreened offers of credit and insurance | Optoutprescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT |
| Opting out of deceased or dependent mail | Register the person’s name, address, and email at ANA’s mail and email opt-out lists |
| Opting out of campaign mailers | Contact the campaign |
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What You'll Learn
- Opt out of data-broker databases to prevent your information from being sold
- Register at DMAchoice.org to choose what mail you want to receive
- Opt out of prescreened offers of credit and insurance
- Contact campaigns directly to ask to be removed from their mailing lists
- Register as an independent voter to receive fewer political mailers
Opt out of data-broker databases to prevent your information from being sold
Opting out of data-broker databases is a way to prevent your information from being sold and to stop receiving political mailers. When you register to vote, your name, address, and other personal information become part of a county's registered-voter database, which is public record. Data vendors and brokers can then access this information and use it for marketing and advertising purposes.
To opt out of data-broker databases, you can follow these steps:
- Find a list of data brokers that may have your information. Some of the major data brokers include Spokeo, Whitepages, Intelius, Oracle, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
- Visit each data broker's website and locate their opt-out page. This is usually found at the bottom of the page as a "remove my information" or "opt-out" link.
- Follow the instructions on the opt-out page. This may involve filling out an opt-out form, clicking a confirmation link, or submitting a request.
- Verify your request and/or identity. Some organizations may require email verification, while others may ask for photo IDs or additional information.
- Wait for an opt-out confirmation. Make sure to receive confirmation that your data will not be sold or shared in the future.
- Repeat the process periodically. Your information may end up back on data broker sites, as they refresh their databases regularly.
It is important to note that the opt-out process can be time-consuming and may involve hidden fees or partial opt-outs. Additionally, organizations may not be obligated to delete your data, depending on the state's data privacy laws. However, spending time opting out of these databases can help protect your personal information and reduce the number of unsolicited political mailers you receive.
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Register at DMAchoice.org to choose what mail you want to receive
If you're tired of receiving political mailers, you can register at DMAchoice.org to choose what mail you want to receive. DMAchoice is a service offered by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) that allows you to decide what types of mail you do and don't want from marketers. By registering at DMAchoice.org, you can select which catalogs, magazine offers, and other promotional mail you want to receive.
It's important to note that DMAchoice will not stop all political mailers, but it can significantly reduce the amount of unsolicited mail you receive. The service covers most promotional mail, but there may be some exceptions. Additionally, it may take some time for your preferences to take effect, as there can be a delay between when you register and when your choices are fully implemented.
To register at DMAchoice.org, you will need to provide your name and address. There is a $6 processing fee for online registration, and your registration will be valid for 10 years. If you prefer, you can also register by mail. Send your name, address, and signature, along with a $7 processing fee, to the provided address: DMAchoice Consumer Preferences, P.O. Box 900, Cos Cob, CT 06807.
Keep in mind that political mailers are often sent based on voter registration information, which is public record. When you register to vote, your name and address become part of a county's registered-voter database, which campaigns can access. Additionally, data vendors track various information, such as your voting method and history, to target specific individuals with direct mail. To reduce political mailers, you can also try contacting the campaigns directly and requesting to be removed from their mailing lists. Many campaigns are responsive to such requests and will honour your preference.
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Opt out of prescreened offers of credit and insurance
Opting out of prescreened offers of credit and insurance can be done in two ways: opting out for five years or opting out permanently. OptOutPrescreen.com is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website to process these requests. The website is run by Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and Innovis, the four major consumer credit bureaus.
To opt out for five years, visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). You will need to provide personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. Sharing your Social Security number and date of birth is optional, but the website states that providing this information can help ensure your request is successfully processed. The information you give is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.
If you wish to opt out permanently, you must first visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to start the process. You will need to provide the same personal information as above. To complete your request, you will then need to sign and return the Permanent Opt-Out Election form, which you will receive after starting the process.
It is important to note that opting out of prescreened offers will not stop all unsolicited offers of credit and insurance. It will only stop prescreened offers based on lists from the major credit bureaus. You may continue to receive offers based on lists from other sources, such as companies you already do business with. Additionally, opting out may take several weeks to take effect, as some companies may have accessed your information before your request was processed.
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Contact campaigns directly to ask to be removed from their mailing lists
If you're tired of receiving political mailers, one way to reduce them is to contact campaigns directly and ask to be removed from their mailing lists. This can be done in several ways, and most organizations will respect your wishes and stop sending you mail.
Firstly, you can call, email, or send a letter by traditional mail to each political organization, requesting that they remove you from all solicitation lists. You can find the contact information for each campaign on their website. If the organization has a physical location near you, you can also visit their office in person.
When contacting the campaigns, you can use the following template:
> "I am writing/calling to request that you remove me from all of your solicitation lists and stop sending me political mailers. I no longer wish to receive any mailings from your organization."
Additionally, when registering to vote, be aware that your name and address become part of a county's registered-voter database, which campaigns can access. Some states offer the opportunity to opt out of political mailings when registering to vote, so carefully review your voter registration form to see if this option is available to you. You can also contact your local or state Board of Elections to understand your rights regarding political mailings.
It's important to note that not all political mailers come directly from candidate campaigns. Many are sent by other political organizations, and opting out of these can be more challenging. However, most organizations will respect your request to be removed from their mailing lists.
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Register as an independent voter to receive fewer political mailers
Registering to vote automatically opts you into receiving campaign mailers. When you register, your name, address, and other details are added to a county's registered-voter database, which is public record. This information is then used by campaigns to send direct mailers to the voters they want to target.
However, you can reduce the number of political mailers you receive by registering as an independent voter. This means not declaring an affiliation with a specific political party when you register to vote. It is important to note that not every state accepts or lists a party affiliation on a voter registration card. Additionally, your party affiliation does not limit you to voting for only that party. You can always choose to vote for a candidate from any party in a general election, such as a presidential, congressional, or mayoral election.
To register as an independent voter, you can use the National Mail Voter Registration Form. This form can be used to register to vote, update registration information, change your address, or register with a political party. Be sure to follow the specific instructions for your state, as they may vary. After completing the form, sign it and send it to your state or local election office for processing. You can find the form and more information on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission website.
Additionally, you can try other methods to reduce political mailers. For example, you can contact specific campaigns directly and request to be removed from their mailing list. You can also register with the Association of National Advertisers' (ANA) website, DMAchoice.org, to choose the types of mail you want to receive. While this won't stop all promotional mail, it can help reduce the number of unsolicited mailers.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no one solution to stop political mailers, but there are a few things you can try. Firstly, you can contact the campaign directly and ask to be removed from their mailing list. Secondly, you can try to opt out of data-broker databases and prevent your information from being sold to politicians. This can be done by opting out of each of the 500+ data broker sites individually or by using a professional data-removal service. Lastly, you can register with the Association of National Advertisers' (ANA) website, DMAchoice.org, and choose the types of mail you want to receive.
Political organizations collect personal information on local voters using various methods, including state voter files, newsletters, donations, other political campaigns, and data brokers. They collect information such as names, addresses, political affiliations, voting frequency, estimated income, credit rating, and more.
If you are receiving political text messages and emails, you can try to set up filters with specific keywords to send them directly to the trash. You can also try to contact the campaign directly and ask to be removed from their contact list.
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