Compliance isn't a feature of political texting, it's the floor under all of it. Get it right and the channel is the most cost-effective voter contact you have. Get it wrong and a single sloppy send can generate per-message TCPA liability that scales fast. This guide organizes everything we've written on doing it right, so you can start anywhere and go as deep as you need.
The one principle under all of it: reach follows consent. Knowing who a voter is and being allowed to text them are two different facts, and compliant programs never confuse them.
Consent, the foundation
Everything starts with a valid opt-in. Read do political campaigns need consent to text voters first, then the nuances: does texting consent expire, single vs double opt-in, and whether a call or email opt-in covers texting. When someone opts out, how voters can revoke consent and STOP and HELP handling govern what happens next.
The TCPA and litigation risk
The TCPA is the law that governs texting cell phones. Start with the complete TCPA guide, understand why the TCPA cares about cell vs business numbers, and know the exposure: the class-action risk, the 2025 surge in lawsuits, the burden of proving consent, and what to do when a demand letter arrives. The legal ground shifts, too, see McLaughlin v. McKesson and the FCC's opt-out revoke-all rule.
Registration: 10DLC and Campaign Verify
Your messages won't deliver until you're registered. Learn what 10DLC means for your campaign, brand vs campaign registration, Campaign Verify, why registration gets rejected, and note that vetting is tightening.
Quiet hours
The rule that shapes every send. Start with quiet hours run on the voter's clock, then quiet hours by state and texting across time zones.
State laws, the mini-TCPA wave
States are adding their own rules on top of the federal floor. Track the mini-TCPA wave, which states are tightening in 2026, Texas SB 140, and Florida's 3-message cap. The Do Not Call Registry is a separate question worth understanding.
Disclaimers, records, and audits
Get the paid-for-by disclaimer right, keep the records that defend you, run a compliance self-audit, and know what happens in a carrier audit. The treasurer's guide covers who owns the risk.
Frequently asked questions
What's the single most important compliance rule?
Consent. You need a valid opt-in before texting a voter's cell phone, and you need to be able to prove it. Everything else, quiet hours, registration, opt-outs, builds on that foundation.
Where should a first-time campaign start?
With do campaigns need consent to text voters and the complete TCPA guide, then registration and quiet hours before the first send.
How much can a compliance mistake cost?
The TCPA carries statutory damages per message, so even a modest volume of non-compliant texts can generate serious liability. That's why compliance is treated as the floor, not an afterthought.
This guide is a hub, not legal advice. It reflects the linked articles as of the date above.
Keep reading: The complete TCPA guide and do campaigns need consent to text voters.