Political campaign phone calls

[dmann]

Is there any way to make these stop? I know they are exempt from the National Do not call registry and I have already contacted each candidate's team directly.

I also tried my local board of elections to no avail. They told me to call my alderman which I have done but I am wondering if there is anyone else I should contact.

There is a primary election here tomorrow and the campaign has been quite nasty. The sheer volume of these "endorsement" calls is out of control. Last Thursday I had 8 of these calls on my machine.

DM

[BigGuynRusty]

Shut down your phone service, even Anonymous Call Block doesn't work, the number that comes up on my phone is 888-555-1212.
Remember, politicians make the rules.

BGnR

[grad]

They have acess to your voting record, and your info when you register to vote.

[MacMagus]

Are they automated? Is it a taped solicitation, or is there a delay of a few seconds before a human starts talking to you?

If so, then you can probably be automatically removed from their lists by playing a disconnect-tone on your phone using a Telezapper. They sell them at Radio Shack.

Alternatively, you can record the beeps from a message like this (mp3 files)...
http://stuff.gigo.com/phone/mp3/clec/gst.mp3
http://artofhacking.com/files/sounds2/DCEDNIS1.MP3

on your answering machine. An automated system *may* remove disconnected numbers from their database.

[dmann]

MacMagus- yes, they are automated taped recordings. Of course, there is no real person to talk to.

Thanks for the tips although I am not sure I want to invest $40 on the telezapper.

DM

[Seacrest]

It's the price we pay for living in a Free Democracy™.

[Gutenberg]

Disconnect your phone tonight and live off your cell. It will be over tomorrow by 5.

The door to door people drive me crazy too. Some candidates have some dubious supporters--I would swear those folks were getting paid, that is, if walkaround money weren't illegal.

[dmann]

Good idea Gutie. It annoys me to think that this is just the primary so I'll have to suffer through this again in a few months for the general election.

Right now I am ready to cast my ballot for whichever candidate DIDN'T call- regardless of his or her platform!

DM

[SteveJobs]

I dunno - I get maybe three calls a year that aren't personal or related to something I'm doing/needing.

[dmann]

SteveJobs- that's what makes these so calls aggravating. The "Do not call" list HAS done what it was intended to do. I never get solicitation calls.

Unfortunately, political campaign calls are exempt from the rules governing the list and they are driving me batty.

Nice way to punish the few remaining voters in this country.

DM