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Last Updated: August 29, 2026
Kawthar (operated by Kawthar Systems LLC) is a community platform for the Muslim community in the Chicago area. Our SMS program sends transactional messages only to members who have asked for them. We do not send marketing or promotional text messages.
There are exactly five kinds of message:
Opt-in happens in your own account settings, and it always takes a deliberate action from you. Nobody can enroll a number on your behalf: the only message we send to an unverified number is the one-time code you asked for by entering that number, and reminder texts go only to a number that has completed verification.
Voting reminders are opted into separately, in the Kawthar Voter Center, and only as part of building a voting plan: you pick the polling place and the time yourself, then choose to be texted about it. A verified number alone never receives a voting text, and turning on event reminders never turns on voting reminders.
Profile update alerts are opted into per profile, on the candidate or officeholder page itself: following a profile enrolls you in email updates only, and the “text me too” control is a separate switch, off by default, usable only with a verified number, with the Section 3 disclosure shown beside it.
The vote reminder list is opted into on the Voter Center page itself, after you look up where to vote: you type your name and mobile number and tick the consent box showing the Section 3 disclosure (the form is protected by a captcha, not an account). The list then uses a second confirmation step: the number receives one text asking for a reply of Y, and only that reply — which can only come from the person holding the phone — finishes the sign-up. Saving your street address with the list is a second, separate checkbox — the address lookup alone never stores your address.
Verifying a phone number never by itself signs you up for reminders, and consent for one message type is never treated as consent for another — verification, event reminders, voting reminders, profile update alerts, and the vote reminder list are five separate opt-ins, each revocable on its own. Marketing consent is not bundled into this flow, because we do not send marketing texts at all.
This is the exact text a member sees next to the opt-in control before enrolling. Because opt-in happens inside a signed-in account, the screens themselves are reproduced at kawthar.app/sms-terms/opt-in-proof.
SMS event reminders
A text before events you RSVP'd to — at most 2 messages per event you RSVP to (one a day before, one an hour before), and none if you never RSVP. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for assistance. Your mobile information will not be sold or shared with third parties for promotional or marketing purposes.
SMS voting reminders
A text reminding you of the polling place and time you chose, on the day you chose, plus one follow-up asking whether you were able to vote — at most 2 messages per election. Non-partisan logistics only: never who or what to vote for, and never on behalf of a candidate, party, or campaign. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for assistance. Your mobile information will not be sold or shared with third parties for promotional or marketing purposes.
SMS profile update alerts
A text when a candidate or official profile you chose to follow is updated — at most 1 message per day summarising all your followed profiles, and none in weeks nothing changes. Factual change alerts only (which fields changed, and a link): never who or what to vote for, and never on behalf of a candidate, party, or campaign. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for assistance. Your mobile information will not be sold or shared with third parties for promotional or marketing purposes.
SMS vote reminder list
At most 2 texts per election from Kawthar — a reminder of when and where to vote, and a check-in asking whether you voted — plus one text when you sign up asking you to reply Y to confirm. Non-partisan logistics only: never who or what to vote for, and never on behalf of a candidate, party, or campaign. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for assistance. Your mobile information will not be sold or shared with third parties for promotional or marketing purposes.
Message frequency may vary and depends entirely on your own activity. Verification codes are sent only when you request one. Event reminders are sent only for events you RSVP'd to — at most one reminder about 24 hours before and one about an hour before each such event. Members who never RSVP to an event receive no reminder texts at all.
Voting reminders are capped per election: at most two messages for any one voting plan — the reminder at the time you picked, and a single follow-up asking whether you voted. If you answer, or if you do not answer, we do not ask again. Members who never build a voting plan receive no voting texts at all, and elections are infrequent by nature.
Profile update alerts are capped at one message per day no matter how many profiles you follow: a single daily summary, sent only on days something actually changed. Members who follow no profiles, or who leave the per-profile text switch off, receive none.
The vote reminder list is capped at two messages per election — one reminder of when and where to vote, and one check-in asking whether you voted — plus the sign-up text asking you to reply Y to confirm and its one confirmation reply. Reminder texts begin only after that reply. The cap is enforced in our database, and every bulk send to the list is approved by a person at Kawthar before it goes out.
Kawthar does not charge you for text messages. Standard message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile carrier and plan.
Opting out of texts does not affect your Kawthar account or your email notifications.
No mobile information will be sold or shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Your number is shared with our SMS delivery provider only to transmit the messages described above, and never for their own marketing. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are not shared with any third party.
See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Questions about this SMS program can go to [email protected].