Key registration deadlines for October: What you need to know for Election 2024 texting
If it’s been a few months (or years) since you last set up a texting campaign, jumping back in can be overwhelming.
Phone number regulations may have changed since you last texted. Whether you're hearing about registration for the first time or setting up a 10DLC or toll-free number, we at Scale to Win want to make this process easier for you and your organization. We’ve developed this helpful resource to provide guidance regardless of where you are in your campaign this year.
Are you set and ready to register a number in early to mid-October? We have recommendations for you. Didn’t get a chance to sign up until the end of October? We’ll lay out your options. Read on for FAQs on phone number registration and specific guidance depending on the time of year and type of organization.
Please note that our timing guidance is based on the waiting times and approval rates at the time of the blog publishing. The carriers and third party vetting groups (like Campaign Verify and The Campaign Registry) in charge of phone number registration can experience outages or change their processes and policies at any time, which can impact approval times.
If you have any more complex questions about registration, our team is happy to help. Contact us anytime between now and Election Day with questions.
FAQs about phone number registration
What is 10DLC?
10DLC (10 digit long code) stands for a phone number with a local area code like 347-999-9999 that has been approved for sending texts at scale. It’s the go-to for sending messages with links and political organizing.
Registration is required to access a 10DLC phone number. Please note that registrations can take around 3-5 business days to be approved, and even longer during busy periods (including around general elections).
For the vast majority of campaigns and groups working on the 2024 election, 10DLC is your best number registration strategy.
How do I complete my 10DLC registration?
We have resource pages with a full explanation on how to register, for both political organizations and nonpolitical organizations. But, the basics are you fill out a form, provide some information about your organization, and we guide you through the rest!
What information do I need to provide to register?
- Legal organization name
- EIN / Tax ID
- Physical address
- Campaign Verify Token (only for political organizations)
- Explanation of why you’re texting – i.e. fundraising, event recruitment
- Explanation of how people sign up for texts – i.e. by entering a phone number into a website or signing up at in-person events
- Two sample text scripts
What is Quick Start and when should I use it?
Quick Start is a service provided by Scale to Win for folks to use before their registration is approved or if they don’t have time to submit a registration before Election Day. Quick Start allows you to send texts right away using unregistered numbers for an additional cost per message segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS).
Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
Check out our recommendations based on date and organization type below:
Guidance for political campaigns, PACs and parties
Between October 21 and October 28, 2024
Between October 29 and October 30, 2024
Guidance for non-profits (charities, advocacy groups, unions) and other non-political entities
October 21 and October 28, 2024
Political: Before October 21, 2024
If you’re a political campaign, party or PAC signing up to text before October 21, you have more options for texting phone numbers.
You have three choices:
- Quick Start: Use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is created. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
- Registered Numbers: These cost less and have better delivery (especially for links), but can take 3-5 business days to set up.
- Both: Start with Quick Start and switch to registered once you get approved
To use registered local numbers, political committees need a Campaign Verify token ($95) before registering. If you don’t have one, get one through Campaign Verify. For an estimated wait time, check your committee’s public filing. If it doesn’t include an email or phone number, your credentials will be sent by mail, which can take up to 10 days. After you submit your registration form with the token, it takes 1-3 business days for approval.
Ready to start texting? Fill out our Get Started form today.
Political: Between October 21 and October 28, 2024
If you’re a political campaign, party or PAC signing up on October 21 or later, you will automatically have access to Quick Start phone numbers. If you want to text from registered 10DLC numbers by GOTV weekend for improved deliverability, we strongly recommend submitting a registration before October 28.
You currently have three choices for phone numbers:
- Quick Start: Use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is approved. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
- Registered Numbers: These cost less and have better delivery, but can take 3-5 business days to set up.
- Both: Start with Quick Start and switch to registered once you get approved
To use registered local numbers, political committees need a Campaign Verify token ($95) before registering. If you don’t have one, get one through Campaign Verify. For an estimated wait time, check your committee’s public filing. If it doesn’t include an email or phone number, your credentials will be sent by mail, which can take up to 10 days. After you submit your registration form with the token, it takes 1-3 business days for approval.
Ready to start texting? Fill out our Get Started form today.
Political: Between October 29 and October 30, 2024
For a political campaign, party or PAC signing up between October 29 and 30, this is likely your last chance to register for local numbers in time for Election Day.
Your options three options for phone numbers:
- Quick Start: Use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is approved. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
- Registered Numbers: These cost less and have better delivery, but can take 3-5 business days to set up.
- Both: Start with Quick Start and switch to registered once you get approved
To use registered local numbers, political committees need a Campaign Verify token ($95) before registering. If you don’t have one, get one through Campaign Verify. For an estimated wait time, check your committee’s public filing. If it doesn’t include an email or phone number, your credentials will be sent by mail, which can take up to 10 days. After you submit your registration form with the token, it takes 1-3 business days for approval.
Ready to start texting? Fill out our Get Started form today.
Political: October 31, 2024 or later
If you’re a political campaign, party or PAC signing up on October 31 or later you will automatically have access to Quick Start phone numbers. It is unlikely to register a local number in time for Election Day texting campaigns.
Here is more information about Quick Start:
With Quick Start you can use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is approved. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
Ready to start texting? Fill out our Get Started form today.
Nonprofits: Before October 21, 2024
If you represent a non-political entity like a 501(c)3, advocacy group, or union and sign up to text before October 21, you have a few options for your texting campaign.
You currently have three choices for phone numbers:
- Quick Start: Use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is approved. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
- Registered Numbers: These cost less and have better delivery, but can take 5-7 business days to set up. You can register for local, toll-free or both types of numbers. Note: with local registration there are limits on how many texts you can send to T-Mobile customers each day, which depends on the organization’s size, reputation, and history.
- Both: Start with Quick Start and switch to registered once you get approved
What to do next:
- For a local number, fill out our registration form, and we will get back to you if we need additional information. We might ask for IRS documents (like a letter of determination, 990 form, or 8976 form). After you submit the form, approval can take between 3-7 business days.
- For toll-free numbers, fill out our toll-free form. While these numbers aren’t capped, they can see heavy filtering with political content. Approval can also take between 2-5 business days.
Interested in Quick Start? Fill out our Get Started form today.
Nonprofits: October 21 and October 28, 2024
If you represent a non-political entity like a 501(c)3, advocacy group, or union and sign up on October 21 or later you will automatically have access to Quick Start phone numbers. If you want to text from registered 10DLC numbers by Election Day, we strongly recommend submitting a registration by October 28.
You currently have three choices for phone numbers:
- Quick Start: Use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is approved. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
- Registered Numbers: These cost less and have better delivery, but can take 5-7 business days to set up. You can register for local, toll-free or both types of numbers. Note: with local registration there are limits on how many texts you can send to T-Mobile customers each day, which depends on the organization’s size, reputation, and history.
- Both: Start with Quick Start and switch to registered once you get approved
What to do next:
- For a local number, fill out our local registration form, and we will get back to you if we need additional information. We might ask for IRS documents (like a letter of determination, 990 form, or 8976 form). After you submit the form, approval can take between 3-7 business days.
- For toll-free numbers, fill out our toll-free form. While these numbers aren’t capped, they can see heavy filtering with political content. Approval can also take between 2-5 business days.
Interested in Quick Start? Fill out our Get Started form today.
Nonprofits: October 29, 2024 or later
If you represent a non-political entity like a 501(c)3, advocacy group, or union and sign up on October 29 or later you will automatically have access to Quick Start phone numbers. It is unlikely to register a local number in time for Election Day texting campaigns.
Here is more information about Quick Start:
With Quick Start you can use unregistered numbers right away. It costs a bit more per segment (1 ¢ extra for SMS, 1.5 ¢ extra for MMS), but you can text once your account is approved. Sending speeds on Quick Start, particularly on MMS, may decrease as we get closer to Election Day, so if you’re going to use Quick Start, we recommend sending SMS (text messages without an image or attachment) whenever possible.
Ready to start texting? Fill out our Get Started form today.
