Political Parties And Your Phone Number: How And Why?

Political parties employ a variety of methods to obtain phone numbers, including through voter registration, online activity, and purchasing data from other organizations. While the exact process varies, the ultimate goal is to influence voters and promote their agenda. This has led to a surge in political messages, with Americans receiving over 13 billion texts related to campaigns in 2020. This influx has sparked concerns about privacy and consent, with many individuals feeling bombarded by unwanted messages. To address this, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have established regulations, such as requiring prior consent for autodialed calls and texts to mobile phones. Despite these efforts, the challenge of managing political messages persists, prompting the exploration of call-and-text-blocking apps and other strategies to mitigate their impact.

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Political parties can get your number through voter registration

In the United States, the process of voter registration and the information collected during it vary by state. Depending on the state, an individual may be asked to declare their party affiliation when registering to vote, and this information may be listed on their voter registration card. However, it is not mandatory to join a political party or reveal one's party preference during voter registration.

An individual's party affiliation is usually only relevant during primary elections, where some states have closed" primaries, meaning that only voters affiliated with a particular party can vote for that party's candidates. Notably, an individual's party affiliation does not restrict them to voting for that party alone; in general elections, such as presidential, congressional, or mayoral elections, voters are free to choose candidates from any party.

While voter registration lists are generally not accessible to the public, some states, like California, allow certain voter information to be disclosed to members of the state legislature, U.S. Congress, candidates, ballot measure committees, and individuals for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes. Confidential information, such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and signatures, is withheld from disclosure.

Political parties can access voter registration data, which may include phone numbers, through various means. For example, they can obtain this information from state or local election officials, who are often responsible for maintaining voter registration records. Additionally, some states provide public access to voter registration data, albeit with certain personal information redacted for privacy concerns.

They may also get it from third parties, such as marketing companies

Political parties may obtain your phone number from third parties, such as marketing companies. This can occur when you use your phone number for online ordering, marketing activities, or social media platforms, and unknowingly grant permission for your data to be shared with other service providers in the fine print of an end-user agreement. Cyber security expert Peter Tran advises that it is crucial to carefully read these agreements to avoid unintentionally sharing your phone number.

Additionally, marketing companies may sell your data, including your phone number, to political parties. This practice is known as data brokering and is often legal. Data brokers are businesses that collect and sell personal information, and political parties may purchase this data to target specific demographics or individuals. While this practice can provide political parties with valuable insights and contact information for potential voters, it raises concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse or unauthorized access to personal data.

It is important to note that, in some cases, you may have willingly provided your phone number to a political party or voting-related organization without realizing it. For example, you may have registered with a political party or signed up for transportation to polls, unknowingly granting them permission to send you text messages about upcoming campaigns. Reviewing your interactions with political organizations and carefully reading the terms and conditions of any agreements can help you identify how your phone number was obtained.

To mitigate the influx of unwanted political text messages, you can take several steps. First, you can reply with "STOP" to unsubscribe from receiving further messages. Additionally, you can block the number or use call-and-text-blocking apps to filter out unwanted communications. You can also report political text messages that violate FCC rules by forwarding them to 7726 ("SPAM"). or submitting an informal complaint to the FCC website.

They can send texts manually without prior consent

During an election season, you may experience an increase in calls and texts from political campaigns. While these calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, specific rules outlined by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) govern them.

Political campaigns are permitted to send text messages manually without employing autodialing or robocalling technology. These manual messages can be sent without your prior consent. However, if you receive unsolicited texts, you can report the sender by forwarding the messages to 7726 ("SPAM") or by filing an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.

It's important to distinguish between manual text messages and autodialed or robotexts. The latter are subject to different regulations and require your prior express consent. Political campaigns are prohibited from using autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls and texts, without your consent. These restrictions apply to mobile devices, protected phone lines, and even landline telephones in some cases.

If you wish to stop receiving political text messages, you can revoke your consent at any time. Simply reply "STOP" to the text, and the sender is required to honor your opt-out request. This applies to both manual and autodialed text messages. Additionally, be cautious of scams or illegal robocalls that utilize AI-generated deepfake voice technology, as these are considered illegal by the FCC.

While political campaigns have some leeway in sending manual text messages without prior consent, they must still comply with other regulations outlined by the TCPA and FCC. These regulations aim to protect your privacy and ensure that you have control over the communications you receive during election seasons or other political campaigns.

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Political parties can call landlines without prior consent

It is worth noting that these rules do not apply to mobile phones or other wireless devices. Political campaigns are prohibited from making autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls and texts, to cell phones or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent. This is where the majority of political calls and texts are sent, and consent is usually given unknowingly. For example, when using a number for online ordering or on a social media platform, the fine print may state that the number can be shared with other service providers.

If you are receiving unwanted political calls or texts, there are several ways to stop them. You can reply with "STOP" and then block the number, or use call-and-text-blocking apps. Additionally, you can report spam by forwarding the text to 7726. It is important to note that you can also file an informal complaint with the FCC if you believe you have received a political call or text that does not comply with their rules.

While political parties can call landlines without prior consent, it is important to be aware of the limitations and exceptions outlined by the TCPA. Additionally, individuals can take steps to reduce the number of unwanted political calls and texts they receive by utilizing the methods mentioned above.

You can block political texts by replying stop

Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, but they must follow the rules set out by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This Act states that robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent.

If you are receiving political texts that you didn't consent to, you can block them by replying "stop". Campaigns should honor opt-out requests if you reply "stop" to a text or "do not call again" on a voice call. You can also revoke your consent at any time and in any reasonable manner.

If you are unsure whether the number is from a scammer or a campaign, it is better to block and report the number. This is because replying to a scammer lets them know your number is real. You can report the sender by forwarding the text to 7726 or "spam". If you are receiving a large volume of unwanted political texts, you can also use a call-and-text-blocking app, like Should I Answer?, Hiya, and Truecaller.

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