By SpoofCard Blog
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October 4, 2024
With the 2024 U.S. presidential election fast approaching, political campaigns in the United States are ramping up, bringing a flood of political texts, calls, and robocalls. Whether it’s fundraising requests, voter outreach, or political surveys, these communications can quickly become overwhelming. The good news is there are steps you can take to protect yourself from being bombarded by these unsolicited messages. Why You’re Receiving Political Texts and Calls During election seasons, political campaigns and organizations use mass texting and calling to reach potential voters. Unlike telemarketing, political messages are often exempt from many regulations under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), meaning they can reach you even if you're on the National Do Not Call Registry. Political campaigns may use voter data, phone number lists purchased from data brokers, or contact details you’ve shared with third-party services to reach out to you. Fortunately, there are several methods to minimize these interruptions and regain control over your phone during election season: How to Reduce or Block Political Texts and Calls Opt-Out of Text Campaigns: Most political texts allow you to opt out by replying with “STOP” or similar keywords. Responding with “STOP” will unsubscribe you from further messages from that campaign. Keep in mind you’ll need to do this for each campaign that contacts you. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry: While political calls are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry, registering your number can still help reduce other unwanted calls. This may not eliminate all political calls, but it can limit the volume of other non-political unsolicited calls. You can register at donotcall.gov. Use Call Blocking Features on Your Phone: Most smartphones come with built-in call-blocking features. Block specific numbers as they come in to prevent further calls from those sources. On iPhones, open the "Phone" app, go to "Recents," find the number, and select "Block this Caller." For Android phones, the process is similar, often found in your call history. Use SpoofCard to Protect Your Personal Number: One of the best ways to prevent your personal number from being targeted by political campaigns is to use a service like SpoofCard. SpoofCard allows you to mask your real phone number when making calls or sending texts, ensuring your actual number isn’t added to campaign contact lists. This gives you more control over who can reach you, especially during election seasons. You can also manage multiple numbers, making it easier to filter calls and texts. If you need to engage with political outreach but don’t want your personal number tied to these interactions, SpoofCard is an effective solution to protect your privacy. Spam Call and Text Blocker Apps: Some native and third-party apps can help you manage and block spam calls and texts, including political robocalls. These apps often screen calls, block known spam numbers, and offer text filtering. While they may not catch everything, they provide an additional layer of protection against unwanted communications. Limit the Sharing of Your Phone Number: Be cautious about where you share your phone number, especially online and with third-party services. Political campaigns often gather data from social media, surveys, and websites where you’ve entered your number. The less you share it, the less likely you are to appear on campaign lists. Why It’s Important to Protect Your Number Beyond the annoyance of constant texts and calls, there’s a deeper privacy issue at play. Once your phone number is on a list, it can be shared, sold, or rented to other campaigns and organizations, leading to even more unsolicited messages throughout the year. By proactively protecting your number, you reduce the risk of your personal information being misused by data brokers and political organizations. Remember to take these steps to protect your phone from political outreach so you can focus on what matters most—making informed voting decisions without constant interruptions.