As November edges closer, Arizonans are finding themselves submerged in an unceasing deluge of political messages, flooding their phones with calls and texts from campaigns eager to snag their attention, and potentially, their votes. In a state where the political tide can shift with the wind, residents are feeling the heat from both sides of the aisle.
Folks from Phoenix to Flagstaff are reporting an onslaught of communication from political entities, with some, like one Phoenician named Ian, telling FOX 10 Phoenix, "I’d say twice a week I get a political text message." Others are getting "probably at least five or six a day," and for some, the numbers are reaching staggering heights, "at least 50," said another. Christoff, a voter in the Valley, expressed a sentiment of exasperation, saying "it’s to the point where it’s just oversaturation."
Political strategist Stan Barnes from Copper State Consulting explained to FOX 10 Phoenix the rationale behind the bombardment: "Arizona is a swing state and there’s $800 million being spent trying to convince you to vote one way or the other." The strategy is clear and economically driven, "It’s so inexpensive, so the barrier to entry is low for campaigns. That’s why everyone does it, because it’s cheap, and it gets right to the individual voter," says Barnes.
Around 15 billion political text messages hammered Americans' phones in 2022, according to call-blocking service Robokiller. This figure, reported by AZ Central, marks a 157% increase from the previous year, and underscores the growing reliance on text messaging as the preferred channel for political communication. While some voters see these messages as a means to learn about issues, the tactic has others questioning the efficacy of the approach. "I mean if your opinion was changed by a text message, then it’s not really a thoughtful opinion in the first place," one voter told FOX 10 Phoenix.
To stave off the wave of messaging, experts suggest taking proactive measures. They recommend acquiring a free "burner number" from services such as Google Voice, for use in those frequent instances where you might otherwise provide your primary number, as per FOX 10 Phoenix. This approach can help filter out some undesirable messages and curb the tide of political texts. Yet, getting completely off the grid may be a challenge, as political campaigns are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry, says AZ Central.
Despite frustration, voters like David just want it to end, "I don’t like any message on my phone that’s unsolicited, so I could do without it," he told FOX 10 Phoenix. With Election Day approaching, residents are counting down the days until their phones can rest at ease, untouched by the digital grasp of political campaigning.
