Malcolm Rivera
Political campaign texts are a common occurrence during election season, with Americans receiving 1.3 billion political campaign messages in October 2022 alone. While these texts can be annoying, there are several ways to reduce or stop them. Firstly, it's important to understand why you're receiving them. Political campaigns may have accessed your publicly available voter information or obtained your number through your affiliation with a political party or voting-related organization. To stop the texts, you can reply STOP or unsubscribe, block the numbers, change your phone settings to filter unknown senders, or contact the campaign directly and ask to be removed from their list. You can also report unsolicited texts to the FCC by forwarding them to 7726 or SPAM.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How political campaigns get your number | Voter records |
| How to stop political campaign texts | Text STOP, STOPALL, ENDALL, or CANCEL |
| Contact the campaign and ask to be removed from their list | |
| Block the number | |
| Use SMS filtering | |
| Use an app like RoboKiller | |
| File a complaint with the FCC |
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What You'll Learn
Text STOP, STOPALL, ENDALL or CANCEL
Political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages, are prohibited to cell phones, pagers, or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent. However, political campaigns do need to follow certain FCC restrictions when reaching out. For example, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules that campaigns must follow. In general, robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent.
If you want to stop receiving political campaign texts, you can reply with the word "STOP". Legitimate text campaign operators should remove you from their list if you reply with this keyword. Other recognized keywords include "STOPALL", "ENDALL", and "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. You can also report spam by copying and forwarding the message to 7726.
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Contact the campaign and ask to be removed
If you're tired of receiving political campaign texts, you can contact the campaign directly and ask to be removed from their contact list. Here's what you need to do:
First, identify the political campaign that is sending you the text messages. This might be a bit tricky, as political campaigns often use individual cell phones or peer-to-peer texting platforms to send messages, which can make it difficult to determine the source. However, legitimate campaigns are required to identify themselves in their text messages and provide information on how to stop receiving messages.
Once you've identified the campaign, reach out to them directly. You can usually do this by replying to the text message thread or by using the contact information provided in the message. Simply ask them to remove your number from their contact list and stop sending you text messages. It is important to note that campaigns are legally required to honour your request. If they continue to send you messages after you've opted out, you can report them to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
If you're unsure whether the messages are coming from a legitimate campaign or a scammer, it's best to block and report the number rather than replying, as replying confirms that your number is active. You can also use SMS filtering on your smartphone to hide messages from unknown senders. On iPhones, go to Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders. On Android phones, open the Messages app Settings > Spam protection > Enable spam protection.
By taking these steps, you can effectively stop receiving unwanted political campaign text messages and protect your privacy.
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Block the number
If you're tired of receiving political campaign messages, you can block the number on your phone. Here's how you can do it:
IPhone
If you have an iPhone, you can filter messages from unknown senders into a separate folder. To do this, go to Settings > Messages, and toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders." This will send messages from unknown numbers to a tab called "Unknown Senders." Unfortunately, you cannot block unknown numbers on iPhones, but this filtering feature ensures that you don't have to see the unwanted messages in your main inbox.
Android
For Android users, the process is more straightforward. Open the Messages app and choose the text from the number you want to block. Tap the option to block the number, and then confirm. Additionally, you can choose to report the text as spam.
Third-Party Apps
If you're still receiving unwanted political texts even after blocking numbers, you can try using third-party apps like Hiya, Nomorobo, or RoboKiller. These apps are available for both iOS and Android devices and can effectively block spam texts based on community reports and blacklists.
Carrier-Specific Apps
Your mobile carrier may also offer additional services or apps designed to identify and block spam messages. Some carriers provide these services for free, while others may charge a small fee.
Remember, while blocking numbers can help reduce the number of unwanted political texts you receive, your number may still be passed around to other campaigns or organizations. To further limit these messages, be cautious about sharing your phone number, especially on social media and public registries.
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Use SMS filtering
While political campaign texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, you can still take measures to reduce the number of unwanted messages you receive. One way to do this is by using SMS filtering.
SMS filtering can help you manage the influx of political text messages by allowing you to set up filters based on specific criteria, such as phone numbers, keywords, or the content of the text. For example, if you're using iOS, the "WideProtect SMS Blocker" app lets you create filters based on the phone number or text content, and moves the texts to a junk folder without notifying you. Similarly, apps like "TM Check: Spam Call Blocker and Text Filter & Lookup" can be configured to filter SMS spam.
However, it's important to note that political campaigns often make slight changes to their messages to circumvent these filters. Additionally, third-party apps may only filter SMS messages, while you may be receiving iMessages or peer-to-peer texts, which are sent directly from one phone to another and are more challenging to block.
To enhance the effectiveness of SMS filtering, you can combine it with other strategies. For instance, if you're receiving texts from a scammer impersonating a political campaign, blocking and reporting the number is advisable. Additionally, you can revoke your consent for receiving such messages by replying "STOP" or using similar keywords like "STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL."
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File a complaint with the FCC
If you are tired of receiving political campaign texts, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has declared that political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages, are prohibited to cell phones, pagers, or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent.
You can file a complaint with the FCC in the following ways:
- Online: Filing a complaint online at fcc.gov/complaints is the quickest and most effective way.
- Phone: Call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).
- ASL Video Call: Call 1-844-432-2275.
- Mail: Send a letter to the following address, including your name, address, contact information, and as many details about your complaint as possible: Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
It is important to note that the FCC may not have the authority to resolve all individual complaints. However, by submitting a detailed complaint, the FCC can provide additional resources and guide you through possible next steps, including directing you to other agencies with jurisdiction over your issue.
To stop receiving political campaign texts, you can also try replying with keywords like "STOP," "STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL." If you suspect the number is from a scammer, it is recommended to block and report the number instead of replying, as replying indicates that your number is active.
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Frequently asked questions
If you're receiving political text messages, you can try replying "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, or “CANCEL”. You can also try contacting the campaign directly and asking them to remove you from their list. If this doesn't work, you can report them to the FCC. Additionally, you can filter out messages from unknown senders on your iPhone or Android phone.
Political campaigns are increasingly turning to text messages as a tool to reach voters. In 2022, Americans received over 13 billion texts related to campaigns. Your phone number may have been obtained through your voter registration information or from a voting-related organization that you're affiliated with.
While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created the Do Not Call registry to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing, it does not cover political calls and texts. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulates automated and pre-recorded calls and text messages but excludes peer-to-peer texting campaigns that utilize human agents.
