INDIANAPOLIS – As Election Day nears, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller reminds political candidates to refrain from using illegal “robocalling” to reach potential voters.
Indiana’s Auto Dialer Law restricts the use of technology that automatically dials residential phone numbers and plays prerecorded messages – an activity known as robocalling.
“Indiana’s telephone privacy laws are strict but clear: Robocalling is illegal and will not be tolerated,” Zoeller said. “There are appropriate ways to reach voters by phone, and I will take swift action against candidates who disregard our laws in an attempt to solicit votes.”
Campaigns and political groups are allowed to make robocalls to households only if a live operator first obtains the consumer’s permission or if the recipient opts in to receiving such calls.
Disregarding the law can result in the Attorney General filing a lawsuit seeking civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation against those responsible.
While Indiana law protects against robocalls, traditional “live” calls from campaigns are allowed, even to numbers registered on the Do Not Call list. Indiana’s Do Not Call law only applies to sales calls and certain charitable solicitations, not political messages.
He said if someone receives an unwanted campaign call, simply ask to be removed from the caller’s list.
To block general telemarketing calls, sign up for the Do Not Call list at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.888.834.9969.
Hoosiers who believe they have been robocalled can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division online at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.888.834.9969.
