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Robocall

A “robocall” is an automated telephone call that delivers a prerecorded message to multiple phone numbers. Typically, robocalls are used for mass messaging.

Robocalls are often used in political campaigns as a way to reach a large number of voters quickly and efficiently.

Political campaigns use robocalls for a variety of purposes, such as to promote a candidate, to attack an opponent, or to encourage voters to turn out on election day. Robocalls may also be used to gather information about voter preferences or to test the effectiveness of different messages. They can also be used as push polls.

There are several ways that political campaigns can make robocalls. One common method is to use an autodialer, which is a computer program that automatically dials a list of phone numbers and plays a pre-recorded message when the call is answered. Another method is to use a predictive dialer, which is a more advanced form of autodialer that is able to predict when a call will be answered and route the call to a live operator.

Political campaigns may also use robocalls to deliver targeted messages to specific groups of voters. For example, a campaign may use robocalls to reach out to voters in a particular age group or geographic region. Robocalls can also be used to deliver personalized messages to individual voters, using information about their voting history or other demographic data.

There are a number of laws and regulations that govern the use of robocalls in political campaigns.

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established rules that require campaigns to disclose their identity and the purpose of the call at the beginning of the message, and to allow recipients to opt out of future calls. The FCC has also established rules that prohibit robocalls from being made to certain types of phone numbers, such as emergency lines and numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry.

Despite these regulations, robocalls have been a source of controversy in political campaigns, with many voters expressing frustration and annoyance at receiving unsolicited calls. Some critics argue that robocalls are an invasion of privacy, and that they can be used to spread misinformation or propaganda. Others argue that they are a legitimate and effective tool for political campaigns to reach voters and engage with the public.

An advantage of robocalls is that the candidate can be heard by many constituents without the effort of that candidate making hundreds of calls. They can also take one message from an influential person and distribute it to many people.

A disadvantage of robocalls is that they are less genuine and may be ignored by some.

Use of “Robocall” in a sentence

  • The campaign has been inundated with robocalls from opponents trying to sway voters.
  • The candidate has spoken out against the proliferation of robocalls, arguing that they disrupt the democratic process and invade people’s privacy.
  • The political action committee was fined for using robocalls to spread misinformation about the opponent during the election.