Registering for 10DLC: Required SMS Compliance for Campaigns

Everything you need to legally and reliably text voters.

Before your campaign can begin texting voters through Vottiv, you’ll need to register your organization for 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) texting, a requirement enforced by U.S. phone carriers.

This process helps ensure your campaign is verified, compliant, and protected from being flagged or blocked as spam.

What Is 10DLC?

10DLC is the system U.S. phone carriers use to verify that SMS traffic is coming from legitimate sources. For political campaigns, this means you must register your organization and campaign message content with the Campaign Registry before sending text messages.

Without registration, your messages are at risk of being delayed, blocked, or marked as spam — and could violate carrier policies.

How to Start the Registration Process

1. Go to the Text Messaging tab in your Vottiv dashboard

2. You’ll be prompted to begin registration — click Start Registration

3. Read and accept the processing notice:

   “Verifying my account for political SMS usually takes only a few days, but may take up to 2–21 business days.”

4. Select whether your campaign is:

   • Federal

   • State or Local

Vottiv will then guide you through the correct form based on your campaign level.

What You’ll Need to Complete Registration

Vottiv handles the submission process for you, but you’ll need to provide the following information:

✅ Required Info:

• Campaign name & contact

• EIN or FEC ID

• Organization type (PAC, candidate committee, etc.)

• Website URL

• Description of your campaign’s SMS use

🌐 Website Requirements

To be approved, your campaign website must include:

1. Privacy Policy

   • Clearly state that your campaign does not sell user information

   • Link must be accessible in your footer

2. SMS Opt-In Language

   • All pages that collect phone numbers (e.g., Volunteer, Contact) must have a checkbox with:

     • Message frequency info

     • Consent language

     • Opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”)

     • Help language for more info

Example Disclaimer:

“By checking this box and providing your mobile number, you agree to receive SMS messages from the [your campaign] organization. Message frequency varies. Msg&Data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”

After You Submit

Once you complete and submit the form to Vottiv:

1. We’ll handle submission to the official Campaign Registry

2. If approved, you’ll receive a six-digit verification code via email

3. Forward that code to us, and we’ll finalize your setup

✅ Once complete, you’ll be fully verified and ready to send unlimited compliant SMS messages with no carrier blocks or delays.

How Long Does It Take?

• Most registrations are approved within 2–5 business days

• In rare cases, approval can take up to 21 business days depending on carrier backlog

Need Help?

If you're unsure whether your website meets the requirements or need help updating your privacy policy or opt-in language, Vottiv’s support team is here to help. We’ve walked hundreds of campaigns through this process and can assist with copy, or compliance checks.