Tired of receiving political text messages? Here’s how to opt out

As election season heats up, voters are finding their phones inundated with text messages from political campaigns and causes. With candidates vying for attention and support, the familiar sound of a text notification has become a common occurrence for many Americans.

While the federal Do Not Call list does not apply to political campaigns, there are ways to combat the influx of messages. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advises that simply replying “STOP” to unwanted texts should remove you from the list. Additionally, reporting unsolicited messages as spam by forwarding them to 7726 or filing a complaint online can help reduce the unwanted communication.

However, distinguishing between legitimate campaign messages and scams can be challenging. Alex Quilici, CEO of call blocking service YouMail, compares it to putting up a “no trespassing” sign – while reputable companies will respect your wishes, scammers will continue to target unsuspecting individuals.

For those looking to further declutter their text inbox, CNET suggests adjusting phone settings to filter out messages from unknown senders. While this may help reduce political spam, it could also result in missing important reminders for appointments or reservations.

As the election season progresses, voters are encouraged to stay vigilant and take proactive steps to manage the influx of political messages on their phones. With fines of over $50,000 per call for companies that violate regulations, there are consequences for those who continue to bombard individuals with unwanted texts.