As election heats up, robocalls pour in
Jul 13, 2012, 6:47 AM | Updated: 6:47 am
PHOENIX — It’s a huge election year in Arizona, with several key races in the balance and the presidential election.
It’s a certainty that the candidates will be lighting up phone lines and there’s almost nothing that Arizonans can do about it.
Arizonans can sign up for the national Do Not Call Registry, but political candidates are exempt. Arizonans can ask County Elections Director Karen Osborne to pull their number off the voter registration form, but that won’t stop the calls.
“Those files have been out there for a very long time and you just can’t unring the bells,” said Osborne.
“You can pull your phone number off of the voter registration form going forward, but both major political parties enhance their voter with all sorts of information.”
Meaning anyone who has ever signed up for a contest and given their phone number, bought anything online or even have a magazine subscription, it’s open season on phone numbers, particularly for political campaigns.
“I continue to be amazed at the thought that robocalls are effective rather than irritating,” said Osborne.
