Simone Lawson
If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, you're not alone. In the US, registering to vote makes your phone number accessible to political campaigns and voting organizations, which can then bombard you with unwanted messages. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, there are still several ways to reduce the clutter in your text inbox.
How to get off the DNC text list
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political campaign phone calls and texts are exempt from the Do Not Call list | Yes |
| Campaigns need prior consent to send messages | Yes, unless they are typed by hand by a real person |
| How to revoke consent | Reply with "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", "CANCEL", or any other keyword recognized by the texting software |
| How to report spam | Forward the text to 7726 or "SPAM" |
| How to file a complaint | File a complaint online at fcc.gov/complaints |
| How to block spam calls | Use call-blocking solutions like Samsung's Smart Call, or download apps for your mobile device |
| How to filter out unknown senders | Go to "messages" settings and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list |
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What You'll Learn
Reply STOP to DNC texts
If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, there are a few ways to stop them. Firstly, understand that registering to vote or signing up with a political party means you've likely given them permission to send you text messages. Your voter information is public and accessible to campaigns and voting organizations.
Now, to stop receiving these texts, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) states that legitimate text campaign operators should remove you from their list if you simply reply with the word "STOP". You can also opt for keywords like "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL". If you're unsure whether the number is from a scammer, it's best to block and report the number, as replying could alert them that your number is real.
Additionally, you can report spam by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM". You can also file a complaint online with the FCC if you believe the text messages violate their rules. To reduce the number of unwanted texts, you can adjust your phone settings to filter out unknown senders. However, this may cause you to miss important text reminders.
Lastly, while campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, you can still register your number to prevent telemarketing calls from other organizations.
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Report DNC texts as spam
DNC texts, or any political campaign-related texts, are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, if you are tired of receiving such texts, there are a few ways to deal with them. Firstly, you can revoke your consent by replying with the word "STOP" to the text. Campaigns should honour opt-out requests if you reply with "STOP".
Secondly, you can report DNC texts as spam. If you receive a DNC text that you think breaks the FCC rules, report it by forwarding the text to "7726", which spells out the word "SPAM" on your phone keypad. Your carrier will then look into it to see if it was sent by a known spammer. This is a good option if the sender seems particularly suspicious, for example, if they are sending false information or asking for money on an unknown site.
Thirdly, you can change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. However, this may cause you to miss text reminders for appointments or reservations. Alternatively, you can contact your phone company to learn about any blocking and labelling solutions they may offer to protect you from unwanted texts. There may also be apps you can download to block or label potential spam texts.
Finally, if you believe you have received a DNC text that does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
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Change phone settings to filter unknown senders
If you're receiving too many unwanted text messages, you can change your phone settings to filter out unknown senders. This will send messages from numbers that aren't in your contacts to a separate inbox, so they don't clutter up your main inbox.
Here's how to do it on an iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap "Messages".
- Tap "Blocked Contacts".
- To unblock a number, swipe left on the number and then tap "Unblock".
- To add a number to the list, scroll down and tap "Add New".
- Toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders".
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap "Filters" in the upper-left corner.
- From this screen, you can choose "All Messages" to see messages from all senders, or you can choose "Known Senders", "Unknown Senders", or "Unread Messages" to filter messages by these categories.
You can also report spam messages by forwarding them to 7726, or by tapping "Report Junk" and then "Delete and Report Junk".
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Register numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry
If you are tired of receiving unwanted sales calls and texts, you can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. This is a free service that allows you to opt out of receiving most telemarketing calls and texts. The Registry is a list that tells registered telemarketers what numbers not to call, but it won't block all calls, especially those from scammers.
To register your number, go to DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the phone you want to register. It's important to note that you can only register up to three numbers at a time online. If you want to register more, you'll have to repeat the process. You will receive an email for each number you register, and you must click on the link in the email within 72 hours to complete your registration. Your phone number should appear on the Registry the next day, but it can take up to 31 days for sales calls to stop.
It's worth mentioning that the National Do Not Call Registry does not apply to political calls, non-profits, or charities. Additionally, if you are receiving unwanted political text messages, you can reply "STOP" to opt out, and you can report spam messages by forwarding them to 7726.
While the Registry helps reduce unwanted calls, it won't completely stop them. Scammers, for example, may still call you, and in that case, you can hang up and report the call to the FTC. Additionally, you can explore call-blocking and call-labeling services for your specific phone type.
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Withdraw consent for political organisations to contact you
Withdrawing consent for political organisations to contact you can be done in several ways. Firstly, it's important to understand how political campaigns obtain your contact information. When you register to vote in the US, your voter information becomes public, and your details can be accessed by campaigns and voting organisations. If you are affiliated with a political party or voting-related organisation, you may have also provided your contact details without realising it.
To revoke consent and stop receiving political text messages, you can reply with the word "STOP" to the sending organisation. Legitimate text campaign operators should remove you from their contact list upon receiving this request. You can also opt for stronger keywords, such as "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL", which most texting software will recognise and automatically remove you from their list.
Additionally, you can change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. This method may not be ideal as you could miss important text reminders, but it will reduce the clutter of unwanted messages in your inbox.
If you believe you are receiving spam or scam messages, you can forward the message to "SPAM" (7726) to report it to your carrier. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if you believe a political organisation is not complying with their rules regarding unsolicited messages.
It is worth noting that while political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, they are still required to follow certain FCC restrictions and obtain prior consent for sending text messages, except in the case of manually sent messages.
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Frequently asked questions
You can reply "STOP" to the text, and legitimate text campaign operators should remove you from their list. You can also change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders.
You can report the messages as spam by forwarding them to 7726. You can also file a complaint with the FCC online.
US voter information is public, so by voting, you are signing up to receive political texts. If you are registered with a political party, you may have handed over your phone number.
You can register your numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). Telemarketers must then remove your numbers from their call lists within 31 days.
