Consent to receive texts isn't permanent, a voter can revoke it at any time, and the law is generous about how they can do it. Campaigns that only recognize a literal "STOP" miss the broader rule: revocation can come by any reasonable method, and once it does, you have to honor it. Understanding how revocation works keeps a campaign from the common mistake of ignoring an opt-out that didn't use the magic word.
Can a voter revoke consent anytime?
Yes. Consent under the TCPA is revocable, a person who opted in can change their mind and withdraw it whenever they want, and the campaign must stop. There's no lock-in period and no requirement that a voter justify the revocation. This is why consent isn't a one-time capture you can rely on forever; it's a standing agreement the voter can end.
How can a voter revoke consent?
By any reasonable means, which is broader than most campaigns assume:
- Texting STOP or a standard keyword, the obvious method carriers enforce.
- Texting a human-worded request, "take me off this list," "stop texting me", which is a valid revocation even without the keyword.
- Replying with a clear intent to opt out in their own words during a conversation.
- Other reasonable methods, since the standard is whether the person reasonably communicated they want to stop.
The through-line is intent: if a voter reasonably made clear they want out, that's a revocation, however they phrased it.
What does this mean for campaigns?
You have to catch and honor revocation however it comes, not just literal STOP. A program that only processes the standard keyword will keep texting people who clearly asked to leave in plain English, which is both a violation and a fast route to complaints. The practical requirement is a system that reads intent, not just keywords, and a suppression that's instant and permanent. Honoring revocation broadly and quickly is both the compliant move and the respectful one, and it protects your deliverability by keeping complaint rates down.
Frequently asked questions
Can a voter revoke texting consent at any time?
Yes. Consent under the TCPA is revocable at any time, with no lock-in period and no requirement to justify it. Once a voter revokes, the campaign must stop.
How can a voter revoke consent?
By any reasonable method, texting STOP or a keyword, a human-worded request like "take me off this list," or clearly communicating intent to opt out in their own words. The standard is whether they reasonably made their wish clear.
Do you have to honor a non-keyword opt-out?
Yes. A revocation is valid if the voter reasonably communicated they want to stop, even without the word STOP. A program that only catches the keyword will keep texting people who plainly asked to leave, which is a violation.
Keep reading: handling opt-outs the right way and do campaigns need consent to text voters?. For the rules, see the FCC.
This is general information, not legal advice, current as of the date above.