How did you get this number? The lowdown on election texts, robocalls from political parties

Robocalls, automated texts, and campaign mail.

It's officially election season and with it comes the expected deluge of correspondence as parties vie for votes. And there's plenty on the ballot to talk about: health care, crime, and more.

Mobile phones are now every campaign's most valuable piece of real estate.

"You might drive past the billboard or you might flip past the printed page, but if your phone makes a notification, you're going to look at it," said Peter Csillag, director of public affairs at Wellington Advocacy, a national public affairs firm.

But when Albertans see a text from some unknown sender pop up on their phones, they may have one more immediate question: How did you get this number?

The answer, in many cases, is you gave it to them.

Spokespersons for both the NDP and UCP point to Elections Alberta as their primary source of contact information.

When Albertans register to vote — whether it be ahead of casting their ballot or at a polling station — they are required to provide their full name and address. Giving a telephone number is optional.

Information is collected one other way: Elections Alberta receives information from Alberta Education on 16- and 17-year-olds for a register of future electors. When they turn 18, that information is automatically transferred to the list of electors.

That list is available for use in campaigning.

Between elections, parties, MLAs and constituency associations can gain access to the list of electors. When the writ drops, access is opened up to candidates.

Elections Alberta stipulates that elector information must be used in a way that's consistent with electoral purposes. There is also a mandatory procedure in place to report any loss, unauthorized access, use or disclosure of the list of electors. 

Misuse of information can result in fines up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

Political communications are exempt from anti-spam legislation and the national Do-Not-Call List but spokespersons for the UCP and NDP said they will honour requests to unsubscribe from messages.