Not just because they signed it. A signature on a nominating petition says the voter supports putting your name on the ballot. It does not say they agreed to get text messages from your campaign. The petition itself is not an opt-in, and treating it like one is the fastest way to turn goodwill into complaints.
You can text a signer when they have also given you their consent in writing, on a sheet that says plainly that they agree to receive texts, with the date recorded. That second step is easy to add at the door, and it turns petition season into a list of people who actually want to hear from you.
This post covers what counts as consent, how to collect it next to the petition without touching the official form, and where the legal edges are. For the full picture of running for local office in Illinois, from petition to Election Day, start with our guide to running for local office in Illinois.
Why a petition signature is not consent to text
A nominating petition in Illinois has one job. It shows the election authority that enough qualified voters want you on the ballot. Petitions are signed in ink on the official form, with a notarized circulator statement, and they are public filings that can be objected to.
None of that is about contacting the signer later. A voter who signs is helping you qualify. They have not agreed to messages on their phone, and most of them would be surprised to get one. Carrier registration for political texting also asks how your contacts opted in, so "they signed my petition" is not an answer that holds up.
So the rule we follow, and the one we recommend to every campaign:
- A petition sheet or sign-in sheet counts as consent to receive texts only if the sheet says so plainly and the date is recorded.
- If it does not say so, the signature is not consent.
- Never assume you can text everyone who signed a petition.
What a consent line needs to say
The wording does not need to be long. It needs to be clear enough that a signer knows what they are agreeing to. A good consent line on a supporter sheet covers four things:
- Who will text them. Use the committee name, not just the candidate's first name.
- What the texts are about. Campaign updates, event reminders, election reminders.
- How to stop. Reply STOP at any time.
- That message and data rates may apply.
Here is an example you can adapt:
By writing my cell number below, I agree to receive campaign text messages from Friends of Pat Rivera. Msg and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.
Then give the sheet columns for printed name, cell number, a checkbox or initials for the text consent, and the date. The date matters. If anyone ever asks when and how a person opted in, you want a dated sheet in a folder, not a memory.
Keep the official petition form clean
The official petition form is a legal document, and objections are how opponents strike signatures. Do not write consent language on it, staple anything to it, or add columns to it. If you are unsure what can and cannot appear on your petition, ask your election authority or an election attorney before you print.
The simple fix is a second sheet. Many campaigns carry a clipboard with the petition on top and a supporter sheet underneath. After someone signs the petition, the circulator says something like: "Thank you. Would you like a text when early voting opens? If so, you can add your cell here." Some will, some will not, and that is fine. The ones who do are the people you most want on your list.
A separate sheet also keeps the two records apart. Your petition goes to the election authority. Your supporter sheet stays with your campaign.
A short word on the TCPA and carrier rules
Texting is governed by more than good manners. The federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) sets rules for texts and calls to cell phones, and the wireless carriers add their own requirements for political senders, including registration and opt-out handling. How these rules apply can depend on how your messages are sent and what they say.
We are not lawyers, and this post is not legal advice. What we can say is that a dated, plainly worded opt-in, plus honoring every STOP right away, keeps you on the safe side of most questions. For edge cases, such as numbers you got from a third party, a list someone handed you from a past campaign, or a sheet whose wording is unclear, talk to an election attorney before you send.
What to do with the signers who did not opt in
They are still voters, and many of them are supporters. You just reach them another way:
- Knock again. Signers are a strong door list for later in the race.
- Ask in person. At the next visit, offer the supporter sheet.
- Offer a sign-up at events. A paper sheet with the same consent line, or a text-in keyword your campaign publishes, works for people you meet at a coffee or a parade.
What you should not do is load a petition into a texting tool and send. It is not consent, and the complaints and opt-outs that follow can hurt your sending reputation right when you need it most.
How to text the signers who did opt in
Once you have a dated, opted-in list, the first message should remind people who you are and why they are hearing from you. Keep it short and include opt-out language on the first text.
Hi Maria, this is Pat Rivera's campaign. Thanks for signing up at your door in September. We'll text a few key dates. Reply STOP to opt out.
Thanks for signing up with Friends of Pat Rivera. Early voting starts Jan 14. We'll send one reminder. Reply STOP to opt out.
After that first message, keep the cadence modest. A few well-timed texts (filing news, an event, early voting, Election Day) do more than a weekly stream. If a supporter replies with a question, answer it like a neighbor would.
For the dates to plan around, both 2027 tracks are covered in our post on turning petition season into a supporter list you can text in February.
What you need before the first text
Opt-in is one piece. Political texting also requires:
- A committee. Campaign Verify, the vetting step carriers require for political senders, is available to 527 candidates and committees with an EIN and a filing published by the election authority. Candidates with no committee are not eligible.
- Carrier registration. Your number has to be registered for political messaging on 10DLC or toll-free. Carrier approval takes days, and Campaign Verify can take 1 to 2 weeks if the PIN comes by mail.
- Opt-out handling. Every STOP has to be honored.
CampaignCNX+ files the carrier registration for you (10DLC and toll-free), guides you through Campaign Verify, and handles STOP replies automatically. Replies come into a two-way inbox, and you can schedule sends to respect quiet hours. You can see how we work with Illinois campaigns on our Illinois political texting page.
A quick checklist for circulators
Print this and clip it behind the supporter sheet:
- Petition first, on the official form, in ink. Do not write on it beyond what the form asks for.
- Supporter sheet second, with the consent line printed at the top.
- Ask, do not assume. "Would you like a text when early voting opens?"
- Name, cell, consent check or initials, and the date on every line.
- Sheets go back to the campaign, not into the petition packet.
- Nobody gets a text unless their line on the supporter sheet is complete.
The short answer, again
A petition signature gets you on the ballot. It does not get you into someone's text messages. Ask for consent separately, in plain words, with a date, and you will finish petition season with something more useful than a stack of signatures: a list of voters who said yes to hearing from you.
Start with a list you can trust
When your opted-in list is ready, setting up takes a few steps: create your account, buy your number, and we file your carrier registration. 100 free SMS included. Your number is $5 a month.