Stop Election Texts: Reclaim Your Phone's Peace

Election season is upon us, and that means an influx of text messages from political campaigns. In 2022, Americans received a record 15 billion political texts, and the 2024 election is expected to bring even more. These unwanted texts can feel like an invasion of privacy, but there are ways to reduce the clutter in your inbox. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, you can still take steps to stop or minimise these messages. Here's how to regain some peace of mind and take control of your text messages during the election season.

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Report senders to the FCC

If you are tired of receiving unwanted election texts, you can report the senders to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). The FCC has laid down specific rules regarding political campaign calls and texts, and if you believe you have received a text that violates these rules, you can report it. Here are some steps you can take:

Identify Violation of FCC Rules:

Before reporting, it is essential to understand the FCC's regulations on political campaign messages. According to the FCC, political campaigns generally need your prior consent to send text messages, unless they are manually typed by an individual. Consent for commercial texts must be in writing, while for non-commercial, informational texts, oral consent is sufficient.

Report by Forwarding to 7726:

If you are receiving unsolicited texts, you can report them by simply forwarding the messages to the number 7726, which spells out "SPAM" on your phone keypad. This method allows you to report spam messages to your mobile service provider, who can then block the sender.

Opt-Out by Replying "STOP":

The FCC guidelines require campaigns to honor opt-out requests. If you no longer wish to receive messages from a specific campaign, you can reply to their text with the word "STOP." The campaign should then remove you from their contact list and cease sending you further messages.

File an Informal Complaint with the FCC:

If you believe you have received a political text that violates FCC rules, you can take it a step further and file an informal complaint with the FCC. You can do this by visiting their website, fcc.gov/complaints, and providing details about the complaint. Alternatively, you can choose to mail your complaint, including your name, address, contact information, and as many details as possible, to the following address:

> Federal Communications Commission

> Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

> 45 L Street NE

> Washington, DC 20554

Additionally, you can explore other resources to block unwanted texts. Many phone manufacturers, such as Apple and Google, offer built-in features or apps that allow you to screen and block spam calls and messages. Third-party apps like Nomorobo, YouMail, and Hiya also provide tools to protect users from spam and robocalls.

Reply STOP to legitimate campaigns

If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, you're not alone. The good news is that there is an easy way to stop these unwanted messages. If you're receiving legitimate campaign messages, simply reply "STOP" to the sender, and they should remove you from their list. This is in accordance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, which state that campaigns must honor opt-out requests if you reply "STOP".

It's important to note that this method may not work for all messages, especially those from scammers. In some cases, you might have to take additional steps, such as blocking the number or reporting the message as spam. You can do this by forwarding the message to 7726 ("SPAM") or filing a complaint online with the FCC. Additionally, you can change your smartphone message settings to filter out unknown senders.

To ensure your request to be removed from their list is honoured, it's important to confirm that the message is legitimate before responding with "STOP". Scammers are harder to stop, and they may not adhere to your request. Legitimate companies that violate the rules can face fines of up to $50,000 per call, according to the FTC.

While it may be frustrating to receive these messages, it's worth noting that political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, they must follow certain FCC restrictions when reaching out. For instance, political campaigns must identify who the text is from and how users can stop receiving future messages. So, if you're tired of those pesky campaign texts, just remember to reply with "STOP".

Filter out unknown senders

If you're tired of receiving endless spam texts during election season, you can filter out unknown senders by following these steps on your iPhone:

Go to your phone's Settings, scroll down, and tap on "Messages". Toggle on the "Filter Unknown Senders" option. Now, when you open your Messages app, you'll notice a Filters option in the upper-left corner. Tap on it, and you'll be able to choose from various categories: "All Messages", "Known Senders", "Unknown Senders", or "Unread Messages". Select "Known Senders" to only see messages from contacts and ignore texts from unknown numbers.

It's important to note that this method won't block the spam texts; it merely allows you to ignore them and review them at your convenience. If you want to ensure you don't miss important messages, such as doctor's appointments or reservations, you can periodically check the "Unknown Senders" folder.

Additionally, if you're an Android user, you can block specific numbers. Simply go to your Messages settings, find "Spam & Blocked", and add the unknown numbers to your blocked contacts.

Remember, you can always reply "STOP" to political text messages, and legitimate campaign operators should remove you from their list.

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File an informal complaint with the FCC

If you've tried other methods to stop election texts, such as replying "STOP" or "unsubscribe" and they haven't worked, or if you suspect the texts are scams, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC. Here's how:

First, determine if the texts are legitimate campaign messages or scams. Political text messages require your prior express consent if they are sent to your mobile phone using an autodialer. Messages sent manually can be sent without prior consent. If you are receiving texts that you didn't ask for, it's likely a scam, and you should report the sender.

If you believe you've received a political text that does not comply with FCC rules, you can file an informal complaint. The FCC accepts complaints about unwanted calls and texts. Filing online at fcc.gov/complaints is the quickest and most effective way to file a complaint. You can also file a complaint by phone at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or by ASL Video Call at 1-844-432-2275. If you prefer to submit your complaint by mail, send it to:

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division

45 L Street NE

Washington, DC 20554

Be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and as much detail about your complaint as possible. The more detail you provide, the better the FCC will be able to guide you through possible next steps and direct you to other agencies that may have jurisdiction over your issue.

Contact the campaign directly

If you're tired of receiving endless election texts, you can take control and contact the campaign directly to request that they stop. Here's what you need to do:

First, identify the source of the text messages. Are they coming from a specific political campaign or candidate? If so, you can try to reach out to them directly. Look for contact information on their official website or social media pages. It's often volunteers who are sending these texts, so they should be able to remove you from their contact list. Politely ask them to take your number off their list and block it for future communications.

If you're unsure which campaign is sending the texts, try replying with the word "STOP" or "ENDALL". By law, legitimate campaigns must honor your request to revoke consent and stop texting you. You may need to do this for each unique number that is texting you. While this method is effective, it also confirms to the sender that your number is real and active. If you're concerned about this, you can block the number after replying "STOP".

To avoid receiving these texts in the first place, you can try to prevent your number from being targeted. When you register to vote, your information becomes public record, and campaigns can access your phone number. To maintain your privacy, be cautious about providing your phone number on forms or surveys. Additionally, you can enable text-blocking features on your phone. For iPhones, go to Settings, then Messages, and toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders". On Android, open the Messages app Settings, select "Spam protection", and enable it.

If all else fails, and the texts persist, you can report them to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has a system for reporting unwanted political texts, similar to reporting unwanted phone calls. Visit their website or file an informal complaint by mail, including your name, address, contact information, and as many details about the complaint as possible.

Remember, you have the right to opt out of receiving unwanted election texts. By taking these steps and contacting the campaigns directly, you can reduce the number of intrusive messages and reclaim your peace of mind.

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