Omar Bennett
Political campaigns have increasingly embraced text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. Unlike emails that often go unread or phone calls that go unanswered, text messages are more immediate and are more likely to be seen by recipients. Campaigns can obtain phone numbers by leveraging extensive databases and digital tools designed to gather and utilize voter contact information. In 2022, Americans received a record 15 billion political texts, and 2024 is expected to be an even bigger year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | More political messages than ever before |
| Timing | Usually during an election season |
| Purpose | To deliver targeted messages, solicit donations, mobilize volunteers, and provide crucial updates on campaign events |
| Target audience | Younger generations are more likely to engage with texts than phone calls from unknown numbers |
| Source of phone numbers | Extensive databases and digital tools designed to gather and utilize voter contact information |
| Opt-out options | Reply with "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, “CANCEL”, or block the number |
| Scams | Impersonation of legitimate campaigns or candidates, malicious links, and requests for personal information |
| Reporting | Forward the message to 7726 or "SPAM" to report it to the FCC |
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What You'll Learn
How political campaigns obtain phone numbers
Political campaigns employ a variety of strategies to obtain phone numbers for their outreach efforts. One common method is through voter registration information. In the United States, all states allow access to voter data for election purposes, which includes details such as political party affiliation, address, and phone number, if provided during registration. This information is often purchased from data mining companies that specialize in collecting and selling consumer data to interested parties, including political organizations.
Another way political campaigns obtain phone numbers is through affiliations with political parties or voting-related organizations. Individuals who are registered with a political party or involved with voting-related activities may have shared their contact information without realizing it. This could occur during sign-ups for transportation to polls or when expressing interest in receiving information about a specific political party. In some cases, individuals may have even granted permission for text-based campaign updates.
During political campaigns, volunteers often play a crucial role in outreach efforts. Campaigns may utilize volunteers' personal cell phones to send text messages directly to voters, known as person-to-person (P2P) messaging. This approach bypasses the stricter regulations associated with application-to-consumer (A2P) messaging. However, it is important to note that even in P2P messaging, prior express consent is typically required for sending text messages to mobile devices, according to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
Additionally, political campaigns may leverage texting applications specifically designed for outreach purposes. These applications enable campaigns to send targeted text messages to potential voters. While the use of such applications falls under the category of A2P messaging and is subject to stricter regulations, it allows campaigns to reach a wider audience in a more organized and efficient manner.
It is worth noting that individuals have the right to revoke their consent for receiving political text messages at any time. The TCPA and FCC regulations require organizations to honor opt-out requests, such as replying "STOP" to a text message.
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Why political campaigns use text messages
Political campaigns have been leveraging text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. Text messages offer a sense of immediacy and are more likely to be seen promptly by recipients compared to emails, which often languish unread, or phone calls, which may go unanswered.
Text messages serve as a direct line to voters' personal devices, allowing campaigns to deliver targeted messages, solicit donations, mobilize volunteers, and provide crucial updates on campaign events. The affordability of sending text messages is another factor that makes them an attractive medium for political campaigns, as they can reach a large number of people with minimal cost.
Additionally, text messages enable campaigns to engage with younger generations who are more likely to respond to texts than phone calls from unknown numbers. By leveraging extensive databases and digital tools, campaigns can easily acquire phone numbers for text messaging, further enhancing their reach and impact.
While text messaging is an effective tool for political campaigns, it is important to note that it can also be exploited by bad actors. Scams and deceptive practices have been reported, where shady groups impersonate legitimate campaigns or candidates to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging personal information. As a result, it is crucial for individuals to treat political texts with caution, verify their legitimacy, and report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.
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How to stop receiving political text messages
Political campaigns have embraced text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. Text messages offer a sense of immediacy and are seen promptly by recipients. Campaigns can obtain phone numbers by leveraging extensive databases and digital tools designed to gather and utilize voter contact information.
If you are tired of receiving political text messages, there are a few things you can do to stop them. Firstly, if the organization messaging you is using texting software, they should have asked you to opt in before sending a text. They must remove you from their contact list once you send them a special keyword, such as STOP, STOPALL, ENDALL, or CANCEL. Secondly, you can change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. Most smartphones have a built-in spam blocker that allows users to silence messages from unknown senders. Thirdly, if you suspect the number is from a scammer and not a campaign, it is better to block and report the number. You can report suspicious text messages as spam by forwarding the message to 7726, which can prompt the wireless carrier to investigate the sender and block future messages.
It is important to note that campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules that campaigns must follow. For example, political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages, are prohibited to cell phones without the called party's prior express consent.
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How to identify scam political text messages
With the 2024 election approaching, scammers are taking advantage of political passion by tricking people into handing over their personal information or money under the guise of a donation. Here are some ways to identify scam political text messages:
- Most local boards of elections will not send out direct text messages. If you receive a text message, it is likely from a third-party group and could be using outdated or incorrect data.
- If you receive a text message with a link, make sure to look closely at the URL in the link. You want to end up at a .gov or .us site.
- If the text message is asking for personal information, it is likely a scam.
- If the text message is asking for donations, especially last-minute ones, it could be a scam.
- If the text message is asking you to take a poll by clicking a link, it could be a scam. Legitimate polls rarely offer prizes for participation. If they do, it is a red flag if they then ask for your credit card information.
- If you did not opt in to receiving text messages, it is likely a scam.
- If the text message is from an unknown number, it is likely a scam.
If you suspect a scam, do not respond. Instead, block the number and report it. You can report suspicious text messages as spam by forwarding the message to 7726, which can prompt the wireless carrier to investigate the sender and block future messages.
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The legal status of political text messages
The legality of political text messages has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with a mix of federal regulations, state laws, and evolving communication technology at play. Here is a detailed overview of the legal status of political text messages:
Federal Regulations and the FCC
At the federal level, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a crucial role in regulating political text messages. The FCC requires prior express consent for political text messages sent to mobile phones using autodialers. However, messages sent manually can be sent without prior consent. Recipients can report unsolicited text messages by forwarding them to 7726 or "SPAM," and campaigns must honor opt-out requests if the recipient replies with keywords like "STOP," "STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL."
State-Specific Laws
The legal landscape for political text messaging varies across states. For example:
- California requires political text messages to include an opt-out mechanism, allowing recipients to easily unsubscribe.
- New York has strict consent requirements, mandating explicit written consent from recipients before sending them political texts.
- Florida's regulations align closely with federal TCPA standards, requiring clear identification of the sender and an opt-out mechanism.
Disclosure Requirements
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) mandates that all political messages, regardless of the medium, must include proper disclosures. This typically involves identifying who paid for and authorized the message. Non-compliance with these disclosure requirements can result in penalties.
Recent Developments
The legal framework for political text messaging is constantly evolving. The Supreme Court's ruling in Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid (2021) narrowed the definition of an autodialer, potentially giving political campaigns more flexibility in using modern texting platforms.
Best Practices for Political Campaigns
To ensure compliance and avoid legal issues, political campaigns should adopt best practices. These include obtaining explicit consent from recipients, using reliable SMS marketing software that complies with legal standards, including disclosures and opt-out mechanisms in messages, and maintaining detailed records of consent and communications.
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Frequently asked questions
Political campaigns have embraced text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. Unlike emails that often languish unread or phone calls that go unanswered, text messages are seen promptly by recipients and offer a sense of immediacy. Campaigns can obtain phone numbers by leveraging extensive databases and digital tools designed to gather and utilize voter contact information.
You can reply with "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL" to unsubscribe from text messages from political campaigns. You can also block the number or go to your phone's "messages" settings and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list.
If you receive a suspicious text from a political campaign, do not click on any links in the message. You can report it as spam by forwarding the text to 7726. Most smartphones have a built-in spam blocker that allows users to silence messages from unknown senders, and there are also filtering apps that can be installed to flag potential spam.
