The Bottom Line: Political Robocalls

Many voters in the Capital Region will be happy when Election Day is over.

They've been telling CBS6 for days how annoyed and frustrated they are, by political robocalls leading up to the elections... especially when they're also listed on the national "Do Not Call" list.

Why are some on the list still getting the recorded phone calls?

Dori Marlin set out to get to The Bottom Line.

She talked to Mitch Katz at the Federal Trade Commission -- who told her that federally, all political robocalls are exempt from the "Do Not Call" registry.

The reason? 

Banning them would be a violation of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.

He did tell Dori about a grassroots effort though, called "The National Political Do Not Contact Registry."

Dori talked to that registry's Founder and CEO, Shaun Dakin.  He tells Dori, the politicians are under no agreement to use it -- but the group does pass the registry along to political parties twice a year, to try and enforce it.

Dakin also says, there can be enforcement at the state level.  Each state may or may not have laws on political robocalls, but the majority don't.

States like Indiana, Minnesota, and Arkansas all have laws banning the calls.  And the laws in those states, are actively enforced.

Some states have restrictions on the calls.  For example, New Hampshire doesn't allow robocalls to those on the national "Do Not Call" list.

New York, however, has no restrictions on robocalls whatsoever.

A spokesperson for the New York Consumer Protection Board tells Dori, it's fair to say that "whatever the federal law is... that's what New York follows."

If you're interested in signing up for "The National Political Do Not Contact Registry" you can visit the organization's website: http://stoppoliticalcalls.org/index.php .

And if something's affecting your Bottom Line that you'd like Dori to look into, send her an e-mail: news@cbs6albany.com .