Ever wonder why your phone suddenly buzzes nonstop during election season? Political campaigns, advocacy groups, and PACs love to reach out by text—they know you’re probably reading every message. Sometimes, you end up on a list just by registering to vote, signing a petition, or even just having a public phone number. Unlike robocalls, many political texts come from real volunteers using special messaging tools, which helps them avoid “Do Not Call” restrictions.
Good news: you don’t have to just live with it! If you’re a Verizon user, there are real steps you can take to cut back (or totally block) unwanted political texts.
Step 1: Reply “STOP” to the Text
Most legit political campaigns include instructions in their texts. If you see “Reply STOP to opt out,” go ahead and do it—just reply with the word STOP. You can also try “UNSUBSCRIBE” or “QUIT.” This tells their system to remove you from future lists. It’s usually instant, but for some campaigns, it might take a day or two to process.
Heads up: This works best for mass texting services that follow legal guidelines. Not all political groups will honor it, but most major campaigns do.
Step 2: Block the Number on Your Phone
If you keep getting messages from the same number, block it directly on your phone:
- iPhone: Open the message → tap the number at the top → tap “Info” → tap “Block this Caller.”
- Android: Open the message → tap the three dots/menu → select “Block number” or “Details” → “Block & report spam.”
You’ll never see texts from that number again. But since campaigns can use lots of different numbers, you might have to do this more than once.
Step 3: Report Spam to Verizon
Verizon makes it easy to report unwanted texts:
- Forward the unwanted text to SPAM (7726). Just press and hold on the message, select “Forward,” and send it to 7726.
- Verizon will reply, usually asking for the sender’s number. Send the number and Verizon will investigate. If it’s true spam, they’ll try to block it on the network.
Note: This won’t stop every single political message, but it helps Verizon crack down on repeat offenders or illegal campaigns.
Step 4: Use Verizon’s Call Filter App
The Verizon Call Filter app is free for most plans and can help block suspected spam texts and calls. Download it from the App Store or Google Play, turn on spam protection, and review your blocked list every so often.
Pro tip: Some features require a paid version, but the free version still blocks a lot of the junk.
Step 5: Register on the National Do Not Call List (But…)
While the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov) helps with robocalls and telemarketing, it doesn’t cover political texts. But it’s still a good step for limiting commercial spam and calls from companies pretending to be political groups.
Bonus: How Did They Get My Number?
Your number might have come from public records, social media, or any form you filled out online. Even some apps and websites quietly sell phone numbers to campaign data brokers. That’s why being careful about sharing your number online can help limit texts in the future.
When Nothing Works: Go Nuclear?
If texts keep coming from new numbers and it’s really out of control, you can call Verizon customer service (dial *611 from your Verizon phone) and ask about additional blocking options. As a last resort, some people even change their phone number, but most folks never need to go that far.
Extra Tips for Staying Sane During Election Season
- Don’t click on links in texts from unknown senders—just in case it’s phishing or malware, not a real campaign.
- Never give out sensitive info over text. Real campaigns never ask for your Social Security number, credit card, or bank details in a text.
- Let friends and family know how to block or report texts, too—sharing is caring!
FAQs: Political Texts and Verizon
- Will blocking a number stop all political texts? Not always. Campaigns use many numbers, so you may have to block several over time.
- Does replying STOP always work? Usually, but not every campaign follows the rules. Combine this step with reporting and blocking.
- Can Verizon completely block all political texts? No carrier can guarantee 100% blockage, but Verizon’s tools and your own blocking/reporting make a big difference.
- Can I sue over unwanted texts? If you’re getting illegal spam (especially with no opt-out), you may have rights under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Talk to a lawyer for specifics.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Political Spam Ruin Your Day
Political texts can be a pain, but you’re not powerless! A mix of replying STOP, blocking, reporting to Verizon, and using the Call Filter app can dramatically cut down on unwanted messages. Election seasons will come and go, but your sanity—and your phone—are worth protecting.
Stay informed, stay in control, and keep your texts for the stuff that matters to you!