Election Communication Setup and Compliance Checklist
This checklist records required checks; completing a checkbox is not approval by a telecom operator, platform or election authority.
Before You Launch
Get the Compliance Groundwork Done Before the First Message Goes Out
Each item below names who is responsible, what evidence shows it is done, and where the requirement is explained. Requirements differ by channel.
Nine checks: SMS DLT entity, header and template registration; voice provider setup; inbound number setup; MCMC pre-certification where required; contact-list permission; silence-period dates for each area; and access and retention. This checklist records required checks; completing a checkbox is not approval by a telecom operator, platform or election authority.
The Checklist
9 Checks, by Channel
SMS Telecom Registration
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1
SMS: DLT Principal Entity Registration
Register the sending entity on an operator DLT platform.
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2
SMS: Header (Sender ID) Registration
Register an alphanumeric header of up to 11 characters under the platform's current format. Headers are an SMS mechanism.
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3
SMS: Content Templates Registered
Register the exact wording of each SMS, with variables marked. Check encoding and credit count with real values.
Voice and Inbound Lines
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4
Voice OBD: Provider Setup Confirmed
Confirm the calling number, calling hours, recording format, billing pulse and any declaration the voice provider needs. SMS templates do not apply.
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5
Inbound IVR / Missed Call: Number Set Up
Number allocated after the provider's KYC; recording notice and line-owner identification added to the menu.
Content Clearance
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6
MCMC Pre-Certification Where Required
Obtain any required pre-certification of election advertisement content for SMS and voice. This is separate from telecom registration.
Data, Timing and Access
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7
Contact-List Source and Permission Recorded
Record where each list came from and the channel each person agreed to. An electoral roll listing is not permission.
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8
Silence-Period Dates for Each Area
Record the poll date and close-of-poll hour for every area on the contact list, and the silence period that follows from it.
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9
Access and Retention Set
Add only the users who need access, set a retention period, and name a person for deletion requests.
A Note on Compliance
A Checkbox Is Not an Approval
This checklist records required checks; completing a checkbox is not approval by a telecom operator, platform or election authority. Registration, provider confirmation and any pre-certification take working days, so start well before the first planned send.
WhatsApp Business Platform is not part of this setup: it is not available for political campaigns. See the WhatsApp political-use restrictions. Product questions: election communication software. Requirement detail: compliance guide.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A DLT Principal Entity registration, a registered header and a registered content template for the exact message, plus any required MCMC pre-certification of the content and a send time outside the silence period.
No. Headers and content templates are the SMS mechanism. Voice OBD setup is confirmed with the voice provider (number, hours, recording format), and an inbound IVR or missed call number is allocated after the provider's KYC.
No. This checklist records required checks; completing a checkbox is not approval by a telecom operator, platform or election authority.
Official Sources and Responsibility
Source links checked on 26 October 2026. These references describe separate checks; confirm the current instructions for the relevant election and the provider's written requirements.
- ECI order 491/MediaPolicy/2015/Communication, 28 May 2015: political bulk SMS and recorded voice advertisements fall within pre-certification. The sending entity must confirm clearance with the relevant MCMC.
- ECI Handbook for Candidate, 2023, sections 7.12 and 7.13: timing restrictions and political-advertisement certification. Confirm the polling area's applicable dates and uncertain activities with the Returning Officer or qualified adviser.
- TRAI: Advice to Senders, regulatory requirements and header/content-template registration: the sender and DLT operator confirm the SMS setup. The voice/number provider separately confirms outbound numbering, calling and inbound provisioning requirements.
- WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, government and political use, updated 23 September 2026: political Platform eligibility is separate from consent and template approval.
