Here are 25 campaign texts for local races, ready to copy. Every one fits in a single SMS (under 160 characters), every first-contact message includes "Reply STOP to opt out," and every one is written for supporters who opted in to hear from your campaign. Swap in your own name, office and dates, and you have a full season of messages for a village, school board, park, library or city council race.
One rule sits above all 25: text only people who said yes. A petition signature is not consent to receive texts. A sign-up sheet counts as consent only if it says so plainly and the date is recorded. If you need to build that list, start with our post on turning petition season into a supporter list.
For everything else about running, from petitions to Election Day, see our guide to running for local office in Illinois.
How to use these templates
- Brackets mark what to change. Keep the result under 160 characters, since a longer text splits into two messages and costs two.
- Sign every text. Supporters should never wonder who is writing.
- Space them out. Most local campaigns need one or two texts a month until early voting, then a few more. Supporters who get a text every day start replying STOP.
- Dates in the examples use the 2027 calendar: early voting from January 14 for the February 23 races, and from February 25 (or March 12 where a February primary ran) for April 6.
Welcome and first contact
1. Welcome after a door sign-up
Hi, this is Pat Rivera, running for Village Trustee. Thanks for signing up when I came by. I'll text a few key dates before April 6. Reply STOP to opt out.
The first text a supporter gets should tell them who you are, why they are hearing from you, and how to stop. This one names the moment they signed up, which makes it feel like the conversation it is.
2. Welcome after an event sign-up
Hi, it's Pat Rivera's campaign for Village Trustee. Thanks for signing up at the coffee meetup. We'll keep texts short and few. Reply STOP to opt out.
Use this when the opt-in came from a meet-and-greet, a candidate forum or an open house. Name the event so the supporter remembers where they gave you their number.
3. Welcome after a website sign-up
Thanks for joining Pat Rivera's supporter list for Village Trustee! Expect a few texts about events and voting dates. Reply STOP to opt out.
If your website has a sign-up form with clear consent language, send this as soon as possible after someone joins, while they still remember doing it.
4. Welcome for a school board race
Hi, this is Jordan Lee, running for [District] School Board. Thanks for signing up. I'll send a few updates before April 6. Reply STOP to opt out.
School board races are nonpartisan, and parents on your list may support candidates across the spectrum. Keep the tone neighborly and the content about the district.
5. Welcome for a returning supporter list
Hi, it's Pat Rivera. You signed up to hear about my campaign for Village Trustee. Here's the first of a few texts before April 6. Reply STOP to opt out.
Use this for supporters who opted in weeks ago and have not heard from you since. It reminds them why they are on the list before you ask for anything.
Volunteers and help
6. Door knocking ask
Hi, it's Pat. I'm knocking doors on [Oak St] this Sat at 10am. Want to join for an hour? Reply YES and I'll send details. -Pat
Specific beats general. A street, a day and a single hour get more yeses than "we need volunteers."
7. Volunteer shift confirmation
Thanks for signing up to knock doors Sat at 10! We meet at [123 Main St]. Wear good shoes. Reply if plans change. -Pat
Send the day before, with the meeting spot. It cuts no-shows and gives people an easy way to back out without feeling bad.
8. Volunteer thank-you
Thank you for knocking doors with me today. We talked to [42] neighbors. That's how local races are won. -Pat
A same-evening thank-you with a real number turns a one-time volunteer into a regular. Keep the number honest.
9. Phone and text help ask
Can you help answer supporter texts for an hour this week? It's easy and you can do it from home. Reply YES for details. -Pat
Not every volunteer can walk. A shared inbox lets homebound supporters, parents with small kids and night-shift workers help too.
Yard signs and visibility
10. Yard sign offer
Would you put a Pat Rivera for Trustee yard sign in your yard? Reply YES with your address and we'll drop one off this week. -Pat
Ask once, and only of supporters. Signs work best on streets where your neighbors already know you.
11. Yard sign delivered
Your yard sign is up. Thank you for standing with me where your neighbors can see it. -Pat
Short and grateful. Supporters who see a thank-you are more likely to say yes to the next ask.
Events and forums
12. Candidate forum invite
I'll be at the candidate forum [Tues 7pm, Library]. Come hear from everyone on the ballot and ask your questions. -Pat
Inviting supporters to a forum with every candidate is a nonpartisan, easy ask, and a friendly face in the room helps.
13. Meet-and-greet invite
Coffee with Pat: [Sat 9am at Corner Cafe]. Bring a neighbor and your questions about the village. Hope to see you. -Pat
Keep event texts to what, when and where. Details go in a follow-up to the people who reply.
14. Event reminder
Reminder: Coffee with Pat is tomorrow, [Sat 9am at Corner Cafe]. See you there! -Pat
Send only to people who said they were coming.
Issues and updates
15. Short issue update
Quick update: the board voted on [road repairs] last night. Here's where I stand: [one line]. Questions? Just reply. -Pat
One issue, one line, an invitation to reply. Supporters like hearing your position from you, not secondhand.
16. Asking for input
What's one thing you'd change about [Village]? Reply with a few words. I read every answer. -Pat
This gets replies, which means you need someone reading them. Only send it if you will answer.
Early voting and vote by mail
17. Early voting opens
Early voting for the April 6 election starts today. Find your site and hours on your county clerk's website. -Pat
Send this on the day early voting opens. Point to the county clerk for sites and hours rather than listing them yourself, since they vary.
18. Early voting, February races
Early voting for the Feb 23 election opened today. Your county clerk's website lists sites and hours. Thanks for your support. -Pat
The same message for candidates on the February 23 ballot, where early voting opens January 14, 2027.
19. Early voting mid-point
Early voting is still open. Skip the Election Day line and vote early this week. Your county clerk's website lists sites and hours. -Pat
A gentle mid-point nudge. Confirm the last day of early voting with your election authority before sending, so you never text it after early voting has closed.
20. Vote by mail question
Planning to vote by mail? Your county clerk's website explains how to request a ballot and the deadlines. Questions? Reply here. -Pat
Deadlines and request methods are set by your election authority, so send people there instead of quoting dates.
21. Did you vote?
Have you voted yet? If so, thank you! Reply VOTED and I'll take you off my reminder list. -Pat
This saves you money and saves your supporters from extra reminders. Mark every VOTED reply.
Election Day
22. Election morning
Today's the day. Election Day is here. Your polling place is on your county clerk's website. Thank you for your support. -Pat
Polling hours come from your election authority. Check them before you write any Election Day text that mentions time.
23. Afternoon reminder
Still time to vote today. Check your county clerk's website for your polling place and hours. Every vote counts in a local race. -Pat
Send only to supporters who have not told you they voted.
24. Ride offer
Need a ride to your polling place today? Reply RIDE and a volunteer will call you back. -Pat
Only send this if you have drivers lined up and someone watching the inbox all day.
After the election
25. Thank you
Thank you for your support in this race. Whatever the result, I'm grateful to every neighbor who opened a door and spoke up. -Pat
Send it the day after, win or lose. The people on your list are the start of your next campaign or your first term.
Sending these with CampaignCNX+
Here is the part of the job a texting platform should do for you:
- Get registered. CampaignCNX+ files your carrier registration for you (10DLC and toll-free) and gives you Campaign Verify guidance. Request Campaign Verify on or after November 15, 2026 so it lasts until January 31, 2029; requests made earlier expire January 31, 2027.
- Load your opted-in supporters into groups (for example, supporters, volunteers, yard sign hosts) and schedule each template to the right group ahead of time. Contacts who join by texting START have their consent date and source recorded. Quiet-hours scheduling keeps sends inside reasonable hours.
- Answer replies in the two-way inbox. Templates 6, 9, 10, 16, 21 and 24 invite replies. Add team members with roles so volunteers can help work the shared inbox.
- Let STOP take care of itself. STOP replies are handled automatically, so no one who opts out gets another text.
On cost: if you sent all 25 templates to 400 supporters, that is 10,000 messages. As an example, at the pay-as-you-go rate of $0.06 per SMS, that comes to $600; most campaigns send far fewer, to far fewer people. Basic is $55 a month with 1,000 SMS, and Pro is $225 a month with 5,000 SMS ($0.045 each after). 100 free SMS included. Your number is $5 a month. For Illinois campaigns there is also an offer through January 31, 2027: 1,000 free texts with a month of Pro plus $149 white-glove setup (normally $299). Details are on our Illinois political texting page.
For when to send which template, see our early voting plan for local candidates.
Start sending to the people who said yes
Copy the templates, set up your account, and have your welcome text ready the day your registration clears.