PHOENIX (CBS5) -
It's a big election year, and candidates will be scrambling to win votes.
It also means voters are bracing for a new wave of political phone calls.
Tom Putman is a registered Arizona voter who would rather not be bombarded with political calls.
"It's usually candidates themselves and recorded calls," said Putman. "They're very annoying. I'll get two to three calls a day leading up until 9:00 at night."
Putman has signed up for the National Do Not Call Registry to stop telemarketers from calling him, but political robo-calls are exempt, which means if a candidate or campaign has your phone number, chances are you'll be hearing from them before election day.
"The name of the game for the parties has always been get out the vote," said Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell. "How else do you do that without having the list of people registered to vote."
CBS5 has learned that when you register to vote your name, address and phone number is legally passed on to the political parties and then sold to various candidates or political groups who have no problem calling voters day or night.
However, there is something you can do to reduce the chances you'll be flooded with political calls this election year.
When you register to vote, just leave your phone number off the voter registration form.
And if you are already registered, then re-register, only this time don't leave a phone number.
There is nothing on the voter registration form that requires you to leave your phone number.
Voters like Putman had no idea there was such a simple way to avoid all those political calls.
"That would be worth looking into," said Putman.
CBS5 also learned that voters may still get political calls even if they leave their phone number off voter registration forms.
Candidates can still find someone's number if they have their name and address, but not all of them will take the extra steps.
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