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Registry pushes back against political robo-calls

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

(The Sun News (SC))

From the morning e-mail ... The National Political Do Not Contact Registry (NPDNC) reports on its efforts thus far to quash political robo-calls:

WHAT: The NPDNC Registry is a non-profit group dedicated to fighting for the American voter to give them the right to opt-out of unwanted political contact, particularly ROBO CALLS.

We advocate for:

Voter privacy rights -- The right for voters to opt-out of political communications, just like they can opt-out of commercial communications with the Do Not Call Registry.

We work with candidates to take a do-not-robo-call pledge. To date 6 politicians have taken the pledge including:

Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Nancy Boyda (D-KS)

Law: We identify existing robo call laws and work with the regulating authorities to help them enforce existing law.

WHERE: http://www.StopPoliticalCalls.org/
WHO: Shaun Dakin is the CEO and Founder. Bio and board of advisors at: http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org/ht/d/sp/i/670/pid/670
WHEN: Launched 10/2007

RESULTS TO DATE:

Members: Over 60,000 members nationwide. 17% in CA, 9% in MO and 9% in OH. 60% female, 60% over age of 50.

Pledge Impact: Over 4 million voters have seen or will see far fewer robo calls due to the pledges taken by 6 politicians.

List of politicians at http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org/ht/d/sp/i/205/pid/205

Testimony:

Provided testimony for the Robocall Privacy Act (Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) at the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 2.27 - http://rules.senate.gov/hearings/2008/022708hrg.htm

Law enforcement impact:

Over 30,000,0000 CA residents may see far fewer illegal robo calls in that state due to our work.

CA Public Utilities Commission code specifically bans ALL robo calls. Unfortunately, the code was not well understood or known by the PUC, politicians, and the voters. Our work to raise awareness around this issue will ensure that politicians robo call in CA at their peril.

More at: http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org/ht/d/DoSurvey/i/25151

Resources about the NPDNC Registry, Voter Privacy and Robo calls:

Front page Politico story about the NPDNC - http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8742.html

The NPDNC Robocall Hall of Shame - http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org/ht/d/sp/i/23651/pid/23651

PEW Center Data on robo call trends 2006 Study (Over 60% of all Americans received robocalls in 06 cycle) - http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/197/report_display.asp

2007 November Study (81% of Iowa voters received robocalls) - http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=377

2008 Study (Robocalls now top type of campaign communications) - http://pewresearch.org/pubs/785/robo-calls-election-2008

Robo calls do not work Green and Gerber (Yale):

The fact that the only evidence based significant study on the effectiveness of robo calls (Drs. Gerber and Green of Yale) concluded that they do not work. That is, the only real lift provided by any voter contact tactic was door-to-door
canvassing rather than robo calls.

More data at the following links:

Latest summary of the book: http://www.campaignsandelections.com/stories/?StoryID=9676332F-1422-17E0-F8951556E52821AB

Link to book: http://www.brookings.edu/press/Books/2008/getoutthevotesecondedition.aspx
Summary of book: http://www.washblog.com/story/2006/1/9/112813/5311

Our evidence suggests that the candidate that robocalls the most, loses the most credibility and, ultimately, votes. Most of the members of my organization say that the candidate the robo calls is the candidate that loses their vote (and contributions).

Here are some quotes from members who joined recently

"I tend to not vote for the person who calls me the most. I am up late at night and these calls wake me up for no real reason. I can get the information they are trying to send from other sources with a lot more detail."

"They impact my life by helping to decide who NOT to vote for. These systems are an annoyance and getting them assists me in choosing against you."

"Calling just annoys me and I assure you it has nothing to do with my vote. I vote on issues, if you annoy me enough I will look at the opponents more thoroughly."

I will not vote for ANY candidate, even my pick, if I receive any calls from them. I have voted in every election since I became of age without any phone calls & I don't need them now!"

Shaun Dakin CEO & Founder
The National Political Do Not Contact Registry
-- A non-partisan, non-profit program by Citizens for Civil Discourse
Register Your Phone Number Now for Free: http://www.StopPoliticalCalls.org/
Blog: http://blog.StopPoliticalCalls.org/