Campaign Verify is a nonpartisan service that confirms a political sender is a legitimate, registered committee, and for many campaigns it's the key that unlocks the higher-throughput political texting lane. If your messages are getting throttled or you can't access the political use case, a missing Campaign Verify token is a common reason. This is what it is, who needs it, and how it fits with 10DLC.
What is Campaign Verify?
Campaign Verify is a vetting mechanism that issues a token proving a political sender is who it claims to be, a real committee, not a spammer wearing the "political" label. The carriers use it to decide whether to trust a sender's political registration. In effect, it's the identity check that lets the carriers open up the faster, higher-volume political lane to legitimate campaigns while keeping impostors out.
Who needs Campaign Verify?
For 527 political organizations and many campaign senders, a Campaign Verify token is effectively required to access the Political Special Use Case and its higher throughput. If you're a registered committee planning to send at any real volume, you almost certainly need it. Smaller or non-political senders may not, but for a campaign that wants uncapped GOTV volume, it's part of the price of entry.
How does it fit with 10DLC?
Campaign Verify and 10DLC work together. 10DLC is the carrier registration framework; Campaign Verify is the political-identity proof that plugs into it. The sequence is: verify your committee through Campaign Verify, register your brand and campaign for 10DLC using the political use case, and attach the token so the carriers grant the political-lane benefits. Miss the token, and you may be stuck in the slower standard lane with lower caps.
How do you get verified?
You apply through Campaign Verify with your committee's identifying information and documentation, and once approved you receive a token to use in your 10DLC registration. Like the rest of registration, it takes time, so start early. A campaign that discovers it needs a token the week before GOTV has already lost the window.
Frequently asked questions
Is Campaign Verify required for political texting?
For 527s and many campaign senders, effectively yes, it's what unlocks the political use case and its higher throughput. Some senders can register without it, but a campaign wanting high-volume political sending generally needs it.
Is Campaign Verify the same as 10DLC?
No. 10DLC is the carrier registration framework. Campaign Verify is the nonpartisan identity check that proves you're a legitimate political committee, which plugs into your 10DLC political registration.
How long does Campaign Verify take?
Plan for it to take time, like the rest of registration. Start well before any high-volume send rather than in the final stretch.
Keep reading: what 10DLC means for your campaign and the complete TCPA guide. For verification itself, see Campaign Verify.
This is general information, not legal advice, current as of the date above.