If you're launching a political texting program in 2026, you'll encounter a critical checkpoint before sending your first message: Campaign Verify. This verification system, created by the Campaign Registry (TCR) specifically for political organizations, determines whether your texts reach voters or get blocked by carriers.
Without a Campaign Verify token, your political texts face severe throttling—sometimes as slow as one message per second. With millions of voters to reach and election deadlines looming, that's campaign suicide. This guide walks through exactly how to get verified, what it costs, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that delay campaigns for weeks.
Skip the Hassle: Let VoterPing Handle It
VoterPing handles Campaign Verify registration for all our clients as part of onboarding. We expedite the process, catch errors before submission, and get campaigns texting faster. Contact us to skip ahead and start sending within days, not weeks.
What is Campaign Verify?
Campaign Verify is a specialized vetting program run by the Campaign Registry (TCR) that verifies political organizations for 10DLC texting. When major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) implemented 10DLC requirements, they created a problem for political campaigns: standard business verification doesn't work for 527 organizations, PACs, and candidate committees.
Political committees don't have the same documentation as corporations. You don't have a DUNS number. Your "business" might be six months old. The FEC registration process is different from state business registration. Campaign Verify bridges this gap by creating a verification path specifically designed for political entities.
Here's what Campaign Verify actually does:
- Validates your political committee by cross-referencing FEC or state election commission records
- Confirms your identity as an authorized representative of the committee
- Issues a token that your texting vendor submits to TCR for 10DLC registration
- Unlocks political use case throughput limits, allowing thousands of messages per minute instead of being throttled
Why You Can't Skip This Step
Some campaigns try to register for 10DLC without Campaign Verify, hoping to save $95 or avoid the process. This is a critical mistake.
What Happens Without Campaign Verify
Unverified political messaging gets classified as "gray route" traffic by carriers. Your messages may be:
- Throttled to 1-3 messages per second (instead of 3,600/minute)
- Blocked entirely by certain carriers
- Flagged as spam, hurting your sender reputation permanently
- Subject to higher filtering that silently drops messages
The carriers are serious about this. In the 2024 cycle, campaigns that tried to skip verification found their entire texting programs disabled weeks before Election Day. Don't learn this lesson the hard way.
Campaign Verify Costs and Timeline
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Verify Fee | $95 | One-time, non-refundable |
| Processing Time | 7-10 business days | Can extend to 2-3 weeks during peak season |
| TCR Brand Registration | $4 | Through your texting vendor |
| TCR Campaign Registration | $15 | Through your texting vendor |
The $95 Campaign Verify fee is paid directly to CampaignVerify.org. The additional TCR fees ($4 brand + $15 campaign) are typically handled by your texting vendor during their registration process after you provide the Campaign Verify token.
Realistic Timeline
Critical timing note: During peak election season (September-November), Campaign Verify processing times can double. If you're planning a fall texting program, start this process no later than August.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your Campaign Verify Token
Before starting the application, collect:
- FEC Committee ID (for federal campaigns/PACs) or State Registration Number (for state/local campaigns)
- EIN (Tax ID Number) for your committee
- Committee's official mailing address as registered
- Treasurer or authorized official's name and contact info
- Committee website (if you have one)
The name, address, and EIN must exactly match your FEC or state filing. Even minor discrepancies cause rejections.
Go to campaignverify.org and create an account. Use an email address you have ongoing access to—this is where your token will be delivered. Avoid using personal Gmail accounts; use your campaign domain email if possible.
Fill out your committee information. Key fields:
- Organization Name: Enter EXACTLY as it appears on your FEC/state filing (including capitalization, punctuation, "Inc." or "for Congress" suffixes)
- Organization Type: Select the correct category (Candidate Committee, PAC, Party Committee, 527 Organization, etc.)
- Registration Number: Your FEC ID (e.g., C00123456) or state equivalent
- EIN: Your committee's tax ID number
You'll need to verify that you're authorized to register on behalf of the committee. Campaign Verify may:
- Cross-reference your name against FEC filings
- Send a verification email to an address on file with FEC/state
- Request additional documentation if your authorization isn't clear
Having the treasurer or campaign manager complete this step speeds approval.
Submit payment via credit card. The fee is non-refundable regardless of whether your application is approved. Receipts are available in your account dashboard.
Campaign Verify manually reviews each application. They verify:
- Your committee exists in FEC or state databases
- The information you provided matches official records
- Your contact person is legitimately associated with the committee
If they have questions, they'll email you. Respond promptly—delays in your response extend the timeline.
Once approved, you'll receive an email with your Campaign Verify Token. This is a unique alphanumeric code that you provide to your texting vendor. The token looks something like: CV-POL-XXXXXX-XXXX
Save this token—you'll need it for each texting platform you use.
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejections
Campaign Verify rejects roughly 15-20% of initial applications. Here's why, and how to avoid these pitfalls:
1. Name Mismatch
The #1 rejection reason. If your FEC filing says "John Smith for Congress" and you enter "Smith for Congress," you'll be rejected. Check your FEC registration letter and match it character-for-character, including:
- Capitalization ("FOR" vs "for")
- Punctuation (commas, periods)
- Suffixes ("Inc.", "LLC", "PAC")
- Year designations ("2026" if it's part of the name)
2. Wrong Committee Type
Selecting "PAC" when you're actually a "Candidate Committee" triggers additional review. Know your committee type:
- Principal Campaign Committee: The main committee for a federal candidate
- PAC: Political Action Committee not tied to a specific candidate
- Super PAC: Independent expenditure-only committee
- Party Committee: State or local party organization
- 527 Organization: Tax-exempt political org (broader than PACs)
3. Missing or Wrong EIN
New committees sometimes haven't received their EIN yet, or use the treasurer's personal SSN by mistake. You need the committee's EIN, not an individual's tax ID. If you haven't received your EIN yet, wait—you can't complete Campaign Verify without it.
4. Unverifiable Contact Person
If the person completing the application isn't listed on any FEC filings (treasurer, designated agent, etc.), Campaign Verify may require additional authorization documentation. Either have a listed official complete the application, or prepare to provide a signed authorization letter.
5. Recently Formed Committee
If your committee was just formed, your FEC filing may not have propagated to public databases yet. This typically takes 24-48 hours after the FEC processes your Statement of Organization. Wait a few days after filing before starting Campaign Verify.
Pro Tip: Check FEC Records First
Before submitting, search for your committee at fec.gov. Confirm how your name appears, verify your Committee ID is showing, and ensure your latest filing is reflected. If you can't find yourself there, Campaign Verify won't be able to either.
After You Get Your Token: Next Steps
Your Campaign Verify token is just the first step. Here's what happens next:
- Provide token to your texting vendor: They'll use it to register your "brand" with the Campaign Registry (TCR)
- Vendor completes TCR registration: This includes your brand ($4) and campaign/use case ($15) registration
- Carrier approval: TCR shares your registration with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon for approval
- Number provisioning: Your vendor provisions phone numbers and associates them with your approved campaign
- Start sending: Once everything is approved, you can send at full political throughput
The post-token steps typically take another 3-5 business days with an experienced vendor. Some vendors are faster; some are slower. Ask about their 10DLC registration timeline before signing up.
What If You're Rejected?
If Campaign Verify rejects your application, you'll receive an email explaining why. Common resolution paths:
- Name mismatch: Resubmit with the exact name from your filing
- Missing documentation: Provide the requested documents via their portal
- Committee not found: Wait for FEC to process your filing, then resubmit
- Authorization issue: Have your treasurer or designated agent submit instead
You can resubmit after fixing the issue, but you won't get a refund on the original $95 fee. Getting it right the first time matters.
State and Local Campaigns
Campaign Verify primarily uses FEC records, but state and local campaigns can still get verified. You'll need:
- Your state election commission registration number
- State filing documentation showing your committee name and registration
- EIN (required regardless of level)
State-level verification may take slightly longer since Campaign Verify has to manually verify against various state systems. Plan for 10-14 days rather than 7-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Campaign Verify for P2P texting?
Yes. While P2P platforms technically operate differently from broadcast SMS, carriers still require 10DLC registration for the numbers used. Your P2P vendor will need your Campaign Verify token to register properly.
Can I use one token for multiple texting vendors?
Yes. Your Campaign Verify token can be used across multiple platforms. However, each vendor will register their own TCR campaign using your token, which means separate $15 campaign fees per vendor.
Does the token expire?
Campaign Verify tokens are valid for the election cycle. For ongoing organizations (PACs, party committees), you may need to re-verify periodically. Check your token status in your Campaign Verify account.
What if I'm an issue advocacy group, not a campaign?
527 organizations doing issue advocacy can still use Campaign Verify. Select "527 Organization" as your committee type. You'll need your IRS 527 registration and state filings if applicable.
My committee has multiple names (DBA). Which do I use?
Use the primary name on your FEC Statement of Organization. If you have a DBA that's different, you may need to provide additional documentation showing the connection.