Is there anything I can do to stop getting political text messages?

[less4success]

I'm in the US, and I'm fairly certain the answer is no, but thought I'd ask.

My understanding from the FTC and Do Not Call sites is that as long as they respect my "STOP" reply (which is useless, since every text comes from a different from number and/or campaign) and someone manually sends the message, there's basically nothing I can do other than try to ignore it.

I've forwarded each message to 7726 (SPAM), but I suspect that is just a waste of everyone's time (mine and my carrier's) due to the above.

[Sibley]

Not that I know, though since I'm getting 3 sets of calls based on the area code, where I used to live, and where I now live, it does get annoying. though I guess they figured out how to work around no one answering the phone anymore.

[Kris]

I sympathize. I am not sure there is anything to do other than block the numbers. The good-ish news: i had been getting multiple texts per day, and just recently, I seem to have blocked enough of them that I haven’t gotten any in a few weeks.

[less4success]

I sympathize. I am not sure there is anything to do other than block the numbers. The good-ish news: i had been getting multiple texts per day, and just recently, I seem to have blocked enough of them that I haven’t gotten any in a few weeks.

If it's the same phone number, you replied with "stop", and they didn't respect your opt-out, I think you can sue them (if you have proper records).

[bacchi]

Can you 'block' the number, sending a "no longer in service" message?

[maizefolk]

I donated to a bunch of campaigns in the last round (2020) and was getting an annoying amount of texts from campaigns I'd never contributed to. Assume my contact details were sold or traded around. I was diligent about replying STOP each time in happened and after a couple of months I seem to have been dropped from everyone's lists.

That or my lack of 2022 donations has caused me to fall of the list of high priority contactees.

[Dicey]

I donated to a bunch of campaigns in the last round (2020) and was getting an annoying amount of texts from campaigns I'd never contributed to. Assume my contact details were sold or traded around. I was diligent about replying STOP each time in happened and after a couple of months I seem to have been dropped from everyone's lists.

That or my lack of 2022 donations has caused me to fall of the list of high priority contactees.

This. Plus, how hard is it to type four letters?

[NotJen]

I donated to a bunch of campaigns in the last round (2020) and was getting an annoying amount of texts from campaigns I'd never contributed to. Assume my contact details were sold or traded around. I was diligent about replying STOP each time in happened and after a couple of months I seem to have been dropped from everyone's lists.

That or my lack of 2022 donations has caused me to fall of the list of high priority contactees.

This. Plus, how hard is it to type four letters?

I don't pay for unlimited text messages.  Getting spam and replying to it costs money.

Also, I've always been told not to respond to spam (I've never donated to any campaigns, or put my name/number on any candidates' list, so these political texts are most certainly spam).

[Dicey]

Dunno. When I type in STOP, they stop.

[zygote]

I am also inundated with these and am really sick of it. I do type STOP every time, but they're all coming from different candidates, PACs, and special interest groups. Each campaign will stop bothering me as requested, but there's always another one that pops up. I'm still getting one every day or two.

It may not sound like a big deal to type STOP each time, but in the aggregate it's a very annoying interruption.

[JupiterGreen]

Dunno. When I type in STOP, they stop.

Same. I donate/am politically active so I'm on all the lists, but I don't like getting too many messages so I'll just respond with stop and then there is no issue. Too many emails, click unsubscribe. Not saying it is not an issue for the OP, but it might vary depending on where you are, who/what is on the ballot and maybe even who you donate too.

[less4success]

For the record, in my case these are all from campaigns/PACs that I’ve never donated to (and never would in a million years). The messages are also very negative and distasteful (and probably not truthful).

It’s just an annoyance, like being tricked into reading clickbait headlines, but it’s frustrating that there’s nothing I can do. That’s all.

[maizefolk]

For the record, in my case these are all from campaigns/PACs that I’ve never donated to (and never would in a million years). The messages are also very negative and distasteful (and probably not truthful).

It’s just an annoyance, like being tricked into reading clickbait headlines, but it’s frustrating that there’s nothing I can do. That’s all.

Are these requests for donations? Or attempts to convince you to vote for (or maybe more against) a particular candidate? I was only ever getting pitches for donations but I don't live in a state or congressional district where my vote ever matters.

I'd imagine texts trying to get you to vote/not vote are much more persistent and frustrating. I am sorry.

[secondcor521]

I'm getting these this fall for the first time ever.

I'm registered to vote, but I don't think I've every donated to a political campaign or organization.

I'm puzzled, because I live in a relatively uncompetitive part of the country politically.  Although I do vote, my vote really doesn't matter most of the time.

I haven't really been paying attention to them, just deleting/blocking so far.  I think they're mostly solicitations for donations to help defeat X in November (where X is usually a national level election not in my state).

[NotJen]

Mine are almost all links to political surveys - don’t know what for because there is no way I’m clicking links in an unsolicited text.  I’ve gotten maybe 2 that mention a particular candidate or leader.

[driftwood]

Updated my voting info last week to make sure I was set up for voting in AZ from out of state. Sent in my ballot yesterday... I've been getting calls/text every day since I updated my info and I find it really annoying. My phone lets me block and report as spam so that's what I do.

No solution, but I'm with you on how much it sucks. Between this and advertising the constant hounding really gets to me.

[Dicey]

Updated my voting info last week to make sure I was set up for voting in AZ from out of state. Sent in my ballot yesterday... I've been getting calls/text every day since I updated my info and I find it really annoying. My phone lets me block and report as spam so that's what I do.

No solution, but I'm with you on how much it sucks. Between this and advertising the constant hounding really gets to me.

Typing S-T-O-P is faster and actually works. Blocking numbers is a game of whack-a-mole.

IME, it's younger candidates who believe social media is a foolproof way to get elected. It was new and effective at first, now it's just a bullshit annoyance.

[geekette]

Y'all are really making me reconsider dropping my landline.  They can text it all they want and it just goes into the great bit bucket in the sky.

I only give out my cell number if it's absolutely necessary, and the iPhone (and probably other phones) will filter texts from anyone not in my contact list into a separate folder without alerts at all.

[Dicey]

Y'all are really making me reconsider dropping my landline.  They can text it all they want and it just goes into the great bit bucket in the sky.

I only give out my cell number if it's absolutely necessary, and the iPhone (and probably other phones) will filter texts from anyone not in my contact list into a separate folder without alerts at all.

We have a cheap (magic jack) landline and all we get are telemarketers.

[Saving in Austin]

Just reply STOP.

Anything else is a waste of time.

Even if the campaigns vary the caller ID numbers they are using they will take your number off of the list.