SMS Notifications
Last updated June 10, 2026
Reach voters directly on their phones with SMS voting invitations and reminders. A secondary channel alongside email to maximize voter participation.
Overview
SMS notifications let you send voting invitations and reminders directly to voters' mobile phones. While email remains the primary communication channel, SMS provides a secondary, high-visibility channel that can significantly improve voter turnout.
Each SMS message includes a secure voting link that takes the voter straight to the sign-in for their ballot, plus the voter's access code. The printed code is the fallback: if a messaging app damages the link, the voter can enter the code manually on the voting page or on another device.
SMS can be sent when a session is in the Live or Early Voting status. You can send to all eligible voters at once (bulk) or to a single voter individually.
Tip: SMS works best as a supplement to email, not a replacement. Send email invitations first, then follow up with SMS reminders to voters who have not yet participated.
Enabling SMS for Your Organization
SMS notifications are available to all organizations. Purchase SMS credit packs from your billing page, then send invitations and reminders directly from the session dashboard.
- Purchase SMS credit packs from your Billing page
- Import voter phone numbers in your session voter list
- Send invitations or reminders from the session dashboard when the session is Live or in Early Voting
SMS Message Types
VoteAlly supports two types of SMS messages. Each is designed to be as short as practical; the send dialog shows the exact character and segment count before you confirm, and non-English messages may use more than one segment.
Sent to voters who have not yet received an SMS invitation. Includes a secure voting link and, where applicable, the voter's access code.
Sent to voters who were already invited but have not yet voted. Includes a secure voting link and, where applicable, the voter's access code.
The messages shown above are an example message format, not a guarantee of the exact link shown for every send. Each voter receives a secure link into their organization's voting page and, where applicable, their own access code printed in the text; the exact link form (for example, whether the code rides in the link itself) may vary by release, and VoteAlly never sends a credential in a URL query string.
Sending SMS Messages
Ensure your session is Live or in Early Voting
SMS can only be sent when the session is actively accepting votes. The Send SMS button will not appear for sessions that are still in draft or have already ended.
Open the SMS Send dialog
Click the "Send SMS" button on the session dashboard. For bulk sends, this targets all eligible voters with phone numbers on file. You can also send to a single voter from their individual voter detail view.
Choose the message type
Select either "Invitation" (for first-time SMS contact) or "Reminder" (for voters already invited but who have not voted). The dialog defaults to the most appropriate type based on context.
Review the message preview
The dialog shows a live preview of the SMS message with a character and segment counter. English messages typically fit in a single segment; translated messages or sessions with long organization names may use two or three segments. The preview uses sample data; each voter receives personalized content.
Confirm consent acknowledgment
Check the consent box to confirm that all recipients have provided their phone numbers and have agreed to receive SMS voting communications. This is required for compliance with US telephone consumer protection rules and carrier policies.
Send
Click the send button to queue the job. Messages are processed in the background. You can monitor delivery status on the session dashboard. Each message consumes one SMS credit.
SMS Credits
SMS messages are metered using a credit system. Each outbound message consumes one credit, regardless of message type (invitation or reminder).
How credits are allocated
- Free and Pro plans: SMS credits start at zero. Purchase SMS Boost packs from the session dashboard to add credits to a specific session.
- Per-session quota: Credits are tracked per voting session. Each session has its own balance of plan-included credits plus any purchased boost packs.
Purchasing SMS Boost packs
- Navigate to your voting session and look for the SMS credits section on the dashboard.
- Click "Buy SMS Credits" and select a boost pack size.
- Complete payment through Stripe. Credits are applied to the session immediately after payment confirmation.
- You can purchase multiple boost packs for the same session. Credits stack additively.
Quota enforcement: If a bulk send would exceed your remaining credits, the job will fail before any messages are sent. Make sure you have enough credits to cover all eligible recipients before starting a send.
Phone Number Requirements
For SMS delivery to work, voter records must include a valid phone number. Here are the requirements:
- US and Canada: Enter a valid 10-digit number, with or without the +1 country code. VoteAlly stores it in canonical +1 format.
- International numbers: Start with + and include the country code, for example
+442079460181. A non-North-American number without its country code is rejected rather than guessed. - Mobile numbers only: SMS is delivered to mobile phones. Landline numbers will result in a failed delivery status.
- Import feedback: An entered number that cannot be resolved is kept for correction but excluded from SMS. The import result reports it, and the voter list marks it as unusable.
Correcting a number: Use the phone pencil or the Unusable phone filter on the Voters tab. Changing or clearing a number after an invitation was sent rotates the voter's access code and invalidates the previous invitation by email as well as text, so send a replacement. A voter who has already cast a ballot cannot be changed, and an existing signed-in browser may remain signed in for a few hours. A STOP opt-out is consent and remains in force after correction.
Voters without phone numbers are automatically skipped during SMS sends. They will not consume any credits. These voters should be contacted through email instead.
Delivery Tracking
VoteAlly tracks the delivery status of every SMS message with real-time updates from the phone carrier. Each voter's SMS status is visible on the session's voter list.
- Pending: Queued for delivery
- Sent: Accepted by the carrier
- Delivered: Confirmed on the device
- Failed: Could not be delivered
- Pending: Job created, waiting to start
- Scheduled: Queued for a future time
- Processing: Sending in progress
- Completed: All messages sent
Opt-out handling: If a voter replies STOP to a VoteAlly SMS, their status is automatically updated to "Opted Out" and they are excluded from all future SMS sends for that session.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do SMS credits cost?
SMS credits are $0.10 per credit, available as purchasable boost packs from your billing page. Each credit covers one outbound message.
Can I send SMS notifications internationally?
Yes. International numbers must begin with + and include their country code. Valid 10-digit US and Canadian numbers may be entered with or without +1. International carrier availability and delivery can vary by destination.
What if a voter does not have a phone number on file?
Voters without a phone number are automatically excluded from SMS sends and consume no credits. Use email for them, or add a number from the Voters tab before they cast a ballot and before the session closes. Entered but unusable numbers are marked for correction and are also excluded.
Can voters opt out of receiving SMS messages?
Yes. Voters can reply STOP to any VoteAlly SMS to opt out. Their status is updated to "Opted Out" and they are excluded from all future SMS sends for that session. This is required by US telephone consumer protection rules and carrier policies.
Do SMS credits carry over between sessions?
No. SMS boost packs are purchased per voting session. Credits from one session cannot be transferred to another.
Can I schedule SMS sends for a future time?
Yes. When creating an SMS send job, you can optionally set a scheduled time. The job will be queued and processed at the specified time, as long as the session is still in Live or Early Voting status when the scheduled time arrives.
What happens if I run out of SMS credits mid-send?
The system checks your available credit balance before starting a bulk send. If there are not enough credits to cover all eligible recipients, the job fails before any messages are sent. No credits are consumed and no partial sends occur. Purchase additional boost packs and try again.
Why is the SMS button not showing on my session?
The most common reason is that your session is not in Live or Early Voting status. SMS can only be sent during active voting periods. Also verify that your voters have phone numbers on file and that you have purchased SMS credit packs from your billing page.