Text Messaging Overview

Text messaging is PolitiFast's flagship voter-contact service: you write the message, and we handle the compliance, carrier registration, and delivery behind it. This article walks the whole journey, from enrolling to watching your first send go out.

How texting works at PolitiFast

One thing up front: every mass text is reviewed and released by the PolitiFast team. You compose, test, and submit — you never self-send. This is deliberate. A single non-compliant send can get a campaign's numbers filtered or blocked by carriers, and that registration is hard to win back. Our review step protects your ability to reach voters for the whole cycle.

Step 1: Enroll

Enroll from your campaign's Services page in the portal. There are two setup options. The full setup is $140, which covers Campaign Verify political-committee verification ($95) and 10DLC carrier registration ($45). If your committee already holds a Campaign Verify token, the token-only setup is $45 and covers just the carrier registration — see Finding Your Campaign Verify Token in this category. Setup is invoiced through your Billing tab; nothing is charged the moment you enroll.

Step 2: Complete the compliance wizard

Carriers require proof that your campaign is real and that your recipients consented to texts. The compliance wizard collects that proof: a published Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, an SMS consent disclaimer on your signup form, and an opt-in screenshot. Getting Approved to Text: The Compliance Wizard covers every requirement.

Step 3: Carrier review

After the wizard, registration typically takes 3 to 7 days while Campaign Verify and the carriers vet your committee. We monitor it for you — see Why Is My Text Registration Taking 3-7 Days? for what happens during the wait.

Step 4: Load contacts and build templates

While registration runs, upload your contact lists on the Messages page (CSV, XLS, or XLSX) and build reusable message templates with merge tags like {first_name}. See Importing Your Contact Lists and Creating Message Templates and Merge Tags.

Step 5: Submit your send

The Submit a Text wizard walks you through six steps, including free test texts to your own phone. When you submit, our team reviews the send, may suggest edits, and releases it on the schedule you chose. Submitting a Text: The Six-Step Wizard has the details.

What it costs

Messages are 5¢ each, invoiced per send — the invoice appears in your Billing tab after each send. If you want a professionally designed graphic for an image send, that's an optional $25 add-on.

What happens next

• Today: enroll from your Services page. Texting shows as pending setup, and your setup invoice appears in Billing.
• This week: complete the compliance wizard once your website's compliance pages are published.
• Days 3-7: Campaign Verify and carrier registration run their review. We monitor and reach out only if something needs your attention.
• Once approved: upload lists, build templates, and submit your first send. The team reviews it and releases it on your schedule, and the per-send invoice lands in Billing.