Political calls and texts: why they're allowed and how to stop them

Every election season, phones fill up with calls and texts from candidates, parties and causes, and the Do Not Call Registry doesn't seem to help. That's by design. Here's what political callers are and aren't allowed to do, how to get off their lists, and how to tell a real campaign from a scammer using one as cover.

Why Do Not Call doesn't cover political calls

The National Do Not Call Registry only covers sales calls. Political calls (asking for your vote, your opinion or a donation) aren't selling a product, so they're exempt, along with charities and surveys. Political speech also gets strong First Amendment protection, which is a big reason lawmakers have left it largely alone.

That doesn't mean anything goes. Political callers still have to follow the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the FCC's rules about robocalls and robotexts.

What the rules say

Calls and texts to cell phones

• Robocalls and autodialed calls (prerecorded messages, or calls placed by an autodialer) to a cell phone generally need your prior express consent. Giving your cell number directly to a campaign, such as on a sign-up form, usually counts.
• Autodialed texts to a cell phone also need prior consent.
• Texts sent manually, one at a time by a person, can be sent without prior consent. Many campaigns use volunteer "peer-to-peer" texting platforms for exactly this reason, which is why you can get texts from campaigns you never signed up for.
• Live calls dialed by hand are allowed without consent.

Calls to landlines

Political robocalls to a home landline are generally allowed without consent, but FCC rules limit calls made without consent to a residential line to no more than three within 30 days. Emergency lines, hospital lines and toll-free numbers get extra protection.

Every robocall must identify itself

Prerecorded political messages have to state, at the beginning, who is responsible for the call, and give a phone number during or after the message.

Some states add their own rules on political robocalls or texts, so your state attorney general's website is worth a look if you think a campaign crossed the line.

How to opt out

• Texts: reply STOP to a real campaign text. Reputable campaigns and texting platforms honor it, and under FCC rules a sender that needs your consent has to honor an opt-out within 10 business days. You may get one confirmation message. Expect texts from other campaigns to continue, since each one has its own list.
• Live calls: ask to be removed from their list. Note the date and the organization.
• Robocalls: use the number the message gives. Don't press keys on suspicious calls.
• Your phone: filtering unknown senders on your phone keeps campaign texts out of your main inbox. See how to stop spam texts.
• Carrier tools: some paid upgrades, like Verizon's Call Filter Plus, let you block categories such as political calls.

Your number most likely came from voter registration files, a past donation or a petition. Those lists are shared and sold between campaigns and groups on the same side, which is why one sign-up can lead to dozens of senders.

Spotting fake political donation scams

Election years bring scammers who borrow the name, urgency and look of real campaigns. Warning signs:

• A link that isn't the campaign's official site, or a short link that hides where it goes.
• Extreme urgency or flattery: "Final notice," "Your membership will be canceled," "We need YOU in the next hour."
• Pressure to pay by gift card, wire, crypto or a payment app to an individual.
• A caller who can't tell you the organization's exact legal name, address or how much of your gift goes to the cause.
• Pre-checked recurring donation boxes on a donation page. Even some real groups do this, so read every box before paying.
• A promise that the donation is tax-deductible. Contributions to candidates and political committees generally aren't, so this claim is a red flag.

How to give safely

1. Don't donate through a link in a text or by phone to someone who called you.
2. Look up the candidate or committee yourself. You can check federal political committees on the Federal Election Commission's site at fec.gov.
3. Type the official website into your browser and donate there, by credit card.

If you think you gave to a fake group, call your card issuer and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. More in charity scam calls, which use many of the same tricks.

Common questions

Is a political text from a number I don't know legal?

Often, yes, if a person sent it manually. If it came from an autodialer without your consent, it may not be. Report it to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.

Can a campaign use an AI-generated voice?

In 2024 the FCC ruled that AI-generated voices count as "artificial" voices under the TCPA, so the same consent rules apply as for any recorded call. In 2026 a political group asked the FCC for a waiver that would let political callers reach cell phones with prerecorded or AI voices without consent. Rules in this area can change, so check fcc.gov for the latest.