Escape Political Text Lists: A Guide To Reclaiming Your Peace

As the election season approaches, it is common to be bombarded with political text messages. While political campaigns are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry, there are still ways to reduce the number of unwanted texts you receive. Firstly, you can reply STOP to the message, which should result in your number being removed from the contact list. If this doesn't work, you can try blocking the number or changing your phone settings to filter out unknown senders. You can also contact the political campaign directly and request to be removed from their list. If you suspect the message is a scam, you can forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

How to get off a political text list

Explore related products

Stopping the Deportation Machine: One Immigrant Student's Arrest and the Kids Who Took on Washington to Get Him Back

$36 $32.4

Ground Stop: An Inside Look at the Federal Aviation Administration on September 11, 2001

$15.95

Don't Stop Thinking About the Music: The Politics of Songs and Musicians in Presidential Campaigns

$17.96 $57.99

Democratization: A Critical Introduction (Political Analysis, 34)

$52.95

The Evolution of Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections: Landmark Documents, 1787-2007

$59.2 $74

Writing a Research Paper in Political Science: A Practical Guide to Inquiry, Structure, and Methods

$35.67

Texting STOP to the number

If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, you're not alone. Political campaigns have been increasingly adopting text messaging as a means of communication, and during election seasons, it is typical to experience a surge in such messages. While it may seem challenging to put an end to these unwanted texts, there is a straightforward solution: texting "STOP" to the sender.

Texting "STOP" is a simple and effective way to opt out of receiving further political text messages. When you receive a political text message, simply reply to the same number with the word "STOP." By doing so, you are revoking your consent to receive these messages, and the sender is required by law to honor your request. This method works for both manually sent and autodialed text messages. It is important to note that political organizations are generally exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements; however, they must adhere to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and respect your decision to opt out.

While texting "STOP" is a powerful tool, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, if multiple political campaigns are contacting you from different numbers, you may need to text "STOP" to each individual number. This is because political campaigns often use a variety of phone numbers to reach out, and revoking consent with one group does not automatically apply to others. Additionally, be aware that it may take some time for your request to be processed, so you might still receive a few messages after texting "STOP."

In some cases, you may continue to receive political text messages even after texting "STOP." This could be due to a few reasons. One reason could be that your number was shared with multiple organizations without your knowledge. For example, if you signed up for a listserv or provided your number to a voting-related organization, your information may have been inadvertently shared with other groups. As a result, you may need to text "STOP" to each of these organizations individually. Additionally, political campaigns often rely on volunteers to send text messages, and it is possible that your "STOP" request was accidentally overlooked or not properly processed.

While texting "STOP" is an effective first step, if you continue to receive unwanted political text messages, there are further actions you can take. You can contact the political campaign directly and request to be removed from their list. Additionally, you can report the sender to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by forwarding the text to 7726 ("SPAM") or filing an informal complaint on their website. By taking these additional steps, you can further ensure that your request to opt out of political text messages is respected and upheld.

Blocking the number

If you are tired of receiving political text messages, you can block the number using the steps outlined below.

First, open your messaging app and locate the political text message thread. Tap on the message to open it, and then tap on the phone number or contact name at the top of the screen. This will usually bring up an ""i" information icon, which you can tap on to access more details about the contact. From here, you should be able to select the "Block" option to prevent further contact from that number.

On an iPhone, you can filter unknown senders by navigating to Settings, selecting "Messages" from the menu, and toggling on the "Filter Unknown Senders" option. This will send all texts from unknown or private numbers to a separate "Unknown Senders" tab. Unfortunately, you cannot block texts from unknown numbers on iPhones, and you can only filter them out unless you assign them to your contacts.

For Android users, the process is more straightforward. Simply open the Messages app, choose the text from the number you want to block, and tap the option to block the number. On most Android devices, you will then be prompted to confirm the block by tapping "OK."

In addition to blocking the number, you can also report political text messages as spam. You can do this by forwarding the message to 7726 (which spells out "SPAM" on a standard alphanumeric keyboard). Your carrier will then investigate the source of the message to determine if it was sent by a known spammer. This is especially useful if the sender seems suspicious, such as sending false information or requesting money on an unknown site.

It is important to note that blocking a number may not always be a foolproof solution, as political campaigns often use multiple numbers to send texts. Additionally, your number may be passed on to other campaigns or organizations, resulting in more unwanted messages. To reduce the likelihood of receiving political texts, avoid providing your number to campaigns or participating in political surveys unless you are comfortable with text communications.

Contacting the campaign

If you are receiving political text messages, it is likely because you are a registered voter, and your information is on file. Campaigns can obtain your phone number by leveraging extensive databases and digital tools designed to gather and utilize voter contact information. In the US, political parties and campaigns have access to voter registration records, which are considered public information.

If you are tired of receiving these messages, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, you can try to opt out by replying "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL". By law, campaigns must respect your request to revoke consent and stop sending you messages. If this does not work, you can try contacting the campaign directly and asking them to remove you from their contact list. If they refuse or do not respond, you can report them to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has a system for texting that works similarly to reporting unwanted phone calls, and it can help stop political ads from swarming your phone. You can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.

Additionally, you can try to block the numbers that are sending you these messages. On an iPhone, you can filter messages from unknown senders by navigating to Settings, selecting "Messages", and toggling on the "Filter Unknown Senders" option. This will hide the messages so you don't have to see them, but it won't stop the senders from texting you. On Android devices, you can block specific numbers by opening the Messages app, choosing the text from the number you want to block, and following the blocking options. You can also enable spam protection in the Messages app Settings.

Explore related products

The Security Archipelago: Human-Security States, Sexuality Politics, and the End of Neoliberalism (a Social Text book)

$24.27 $34.95

Politics in States and Communities

$85.67 $206.65

Policing and Race in America: Economic, Political, and Social Dynamics

$45.59 $48.59

Smart Communities: How Citizens and Local Leaders Can Use Strategic Thinking to Build a Brighter Future (Essential Texts for Nonprofit and Public Leadership and Management)

$36.99 $63

Puritan Political Ideas (The American Heritage Series)

$12.5

Debating the Civil Rights Movement, 1945-1968 (Debating Twentieth-Century America)

$24.96 $42

Reporting the sender

If you are tired of receiving political text messages, you can report the sender by following these steps:

Firstly, it is important to understand that during an election season, there is likely to be an increase in calls and texts from political campaigns. While this can be frustrating, it is important to note that campaign calls and texts are generally exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, this does not mean that you are powerless against them.

If you are receiving unsolicited political text messages, you can forward the messages to 7726 (or simply reply with the word "SPAM"). This is a system set up by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help stop political ads from swarming your phone. By forwarding the messages to this number, you are helping your wireless provider identify and block similar messages in the future.

Additionally, political campaigns should honor your request to opt out of their text message list. You can usually do this by replying "STOP" to their messages. If they continue to send you messages after you have opted out, you can report them to the FCC by filing an informal complaint at fcc.gov/complaints. When filing a complaint, be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and as much detail about your complaint as possible. You can also send your complaint by mail to the following address:

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

45 L Street NE

Washington, DC 20554

Alternatively, you can contact the political campaign directly and request that they remove you from their contact list. It is often volunteers who are sending these messages, and they should remove you from the list if you ask them to. If they refuse or fail to do so, you can then report them to the FCC as mentioned above.

Finally, you can also change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. This option is available on both iPhone and Android devices. However, keep in mind that this may cause you to miss important text messages, such as reminders for doctor's appointments or restaurant reservations.

Changing phone settings

If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, you can change your phone settings to reduce the clutter in your inbox. Here are some steps you can take:

Reply with "STOP"

Most legitimate campaigns include an option to opt out of receiving further messages. Simply replying with "STOP" should unsubscribe you from their list. However, keep in mind that you may need to do this multiple times if different campaigns are contacting you from various numbers.

Report to Your Carrier

You can take it a step further by reporting the unwanted messages to your mobile carrier. Forward the political text to 7726 (which spells out "SPAM") and your carrier can investigate and potentially block the sender.

Block the Number

You can also take matters into your own hands by using your phone's settings to block the sender's number directly. This will prevent any further messages from that specific number.

Filter Unknown Senders

If you don't want to miss important messages from unknown numbers (such as doctor's appointments or restaurant reservations), you can choose to filter instead of blocking them. On iPhones, go to Settings > Messages, scroll down, select "Filter Unknown Senders," and turn on the toggle. For Android phones, open the Messages app, select Settings, enable "Spam protection," and follow any additional steps based on your specific phone model.

By adjusting your phone settings and taking advantage of these simple methods, you can effectively reduce the number of unwanted political text messages invading your privacy.

Frequently asked questions