TL/DR –
Political campaigns have been increasingly using text messages to reach voters, with Americans receiving a record 15 billion political text messages in 2022. This is due to the high open rate for text messages, which is 98% compared to 20-22% for emails. However, some politicians have faced criticism for their campaign methods, including promising donation-matching that may not materialize.
Political Campaigns Increase Use of Text Messaging in 2024 Elections
Political campaigns are shifting from traditional phone calls to text messaging as their primary mode of communication. In 2022, Americans received a record 15 billion political text messages, a 157% increase from 2021, according to Robokiller, a call-blocking service.
This shift is due to the 98% open rate of text messages compared to a 20 to 22% open rate for emails. Consequently, political phone calls decreased by 57% between 2021 and 2022, with Americans receiving 384 million political phone calls in 2022.
However, this rise in political text messages has not been without controversy. Politicians, like U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, have faced criticism for promising donation-matching that may not be fulfilled.
Why Am I Receiving Political Text Messages?
Most recipients of political text messages likely opted in at some point. Sharing your phone number with a company often implies consent for them to share your number with third parties. Unlike marketing messages, political text messages are not regulated by the Do Not Call Registry, as per the Federal Communications Commission.
Can I Opt Out of Political Text Messages?
If you wish to stop receiving political text messages, replying with “STOP” generally works, provided the message is from a legitimate source. However, because political campaigns are not bound by the Do Not Call Registry, they should have your permission before contacting you. If you suspect a message to be a scam, you can forward it to 7726 (SPAM), block the number, or file a complaint with the FCC.
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