A GON Reader Asks
How do you keep from getting mail and email from the presidential and other political campaigns? I have unsubscribed and they just keep coming. Do you have any suggestions?
-- Melanie Myrice
Maria Gracia Responds
Hi Melanie,
As I'm reading your email, I'm plowing through the nine political messages I just pulled out of my mailbox today...and the dozen or so sitting in my email inbox.
No doubt, the closer it gets to an election, the more we tend to get.
The truth is, these will never stop. From a political
standpoint, they work to help (or hinder) candidates running for office.
Political speech is protected by the first amendment.
You may have removed your name from junk mail lists, but removing yourself does not apply to political mailings.
You can try using a professional data-removal service for political mailers you receive via snail mail, but you'll have to pay to do so.
You can try calling your local or state board of elections to determine whether or not they have a political mailing opt-out option.
You can also contact each political organization individually...perhaps even stop in their local office if they have one...and ask to be removed.
This may all sound like a lot of work. It is, and even after doing all of this, it's not guaranteed that it will stop.
If I were you, I would just
stick it out. Recycle the political mailers when you get them. Doing so doesn't cost you a cent and takes a moment or two.
When it comes to political email or texts, honestly, it is very
challenging to get off of these lists. Politicians sending digital mail are not required to provide an opt-out option or a clear subject heading.
This is because political speech is held in
very high regard in the United States. It is very protected. In fact, email from federal candidates will soon be able to bypass filters on Gmail and go straight to your inbox. Of course, you are in control of your delete key.
