Political text messaging is one of the most powerful tools in modern campaigning. It gets your message directly in front of voters, donors, and volunteers in real time. But with that power comes a set of rules that campaigns must follow to stay compliant, protect their reputation, and avoid costly penalties.
At Wonder Cave, we help campaigns of every size navigate these compliance standards so they can focus on what matters most: winning. Here’s a breakdown of the key regulations every political campaign needs to understand.
1. The TCPA: The Foundation of Texting Compliance
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is the law that governs how and when campaigns can send text messages. It was created to protect consumers from unwanted calls and texts, and it applies to both commercial and political messages.
Under the TCPA, campaigns must get prior consent before sending messages to individuals. This means you can’t just pull a list of phone numbers and start texting. You must have proof that a person opted in to receive messages from your campaign.
Violating the TCPA can lead to fines that stack quickly, up to $1,500 per message. So compliance isn’t optional. It’s essential.
2. Opt-In Rules: Building a Clean and Compliant List
Opt-ins are the backbone of a compliant texting program. They’re how you show that a contact has voluntarily agreed to hear from you.
There are several ways to collect valid opt-ins:
- Web Forms: “Sign up for updates” on your campaign website.
- Event Sign-Ups: QR codes or paper forms at rallies or fundraisers.
- Keyword Campaigns: A voter texts a keyword like “JOIN” to your campaign’s number.
Each opt-in must include clear disclosure language explaining what kind of texts the person will receive and that message/data rates may apply.
3. The Campaign Registry (TCR): Your Compliance Partner
The Campaign Registry (TCR) is a centralized system that mobile carriers use to track who is sending text messages and for what purpose. It was created to cut down on spam and improve deliverability for legitimate senders, like your campaign.
Every campaign that uses 10DLC (10-digit long codes) must be registered through TCR. During registration, you’ll provide information such as:
- Your campaign name and EIN (if applicable)
- The use case (political)
- Sample messages you plan to send
Once registered, your campaign receives a “trust score” that helps carriers determine how many messages you can send per minute and how likely your texts are to be delivered.
Why it matters:
Unregistered numbers are far more likely to get filtered or blocked by carriers. That means fewer voters see your message, and your campaign’s credibility takes a hit.
Wonder Cave’s team handles the entire TCR registration process for you, ensuring your campaign’s number is verified, trusted, and fully compliant before launch.
4. Opt-Outs and Ongoing Maintenance
Compliance doesn’t stop once a contact opts in. You must also respect opt-outs. If a voter texts “STOP,” or “UNSUBSCRIBE,” you’re required to remove them from your texting list.
Your texting platform should automatically manage this process to prevent accidental violations. Wonder Cave’s compliance automation ensures all opt-out requests are instantly processed across your campaigns.
Regular audits of your contact list also help keep your program clean and trustworthy.
5. Why Compliance Is a Competitive Advantage
Compliant campaigns don’t just avoid fines, they perform better. Here’s why:
- Higher Deliverability: Registered, compliant numbers are more trusted by carriers.
- Better Engagement: Opted-in contacts are more likely to read and respond.
- Stronger Reputation: Voters see your campaign as transparent and respectful.
At Wonder Cave, we believe compliance is the foundation of trust. Our platform is built to help political campaigns send texts that are compliant, effective, and scalable.
Ready to Make Sure Your Campaign Is Fully Compliant?
Download our free 2026 Political Text Messaging Checklist and make sure every part of your program, from opt-ins to TCR registration, is election ready.
