Burst out of the bubbles! And get action from your congressperson.
Have you ever witnessed someone become agitated about a political issue and declare, "I'm going to call my Congress person?" And did you, in turn, find yourself rolling your eyes and wondering cynically if making such a phone call really matters? If so, you'll be surprised to know that it can really make a difference.
According to Congressional insiders and experts on advocacy, phone calls can have quite an impact. In fact, they're more likely to get results than other methods like email or social media posts.
Why Phone Calls Work
Here are four reasons why calling is so effective:
- Calls demonstrate engagement. - Since they take time to organize and execute, phone calls show a high level of engagement and commitment to the issue on the part of the caller.
- Staffers prioritize calls. - Congressional staffers track and tally constituent calls on call logs as they come in. These logs are then reported to the representatives.
- Calls influence the representative's public stance on an issue. Before they take a public position on an issue, representatives and their staff review what they're hearing from the public so that they can accurately represent their constituents' viewpoints.
- Personal Stories Matter. Sharing personal stories about how the issues are impacting your life can make abstract political positions come to life. This helps staffers who hear these stories better support their positions when discussing them with their colleagues.
How to Make Your Call Effective
- Prepare. Research the issue and your representative's stance on it.
- Be Concise. Keep your message brief and to the point, stating your name, hometown, and the reason for your call.
- Be Specific. Clearly state your position on the issue and what action you want your representative to take.
- Be Polite. Thank the staff member for their time and willingness to listen.
Beyond Phone Calls
In addition to phone calls, consider these methods for contacting your representative:
- Attend Town Halls. Town halls, both virtual and in-person, offer an opportunity to interact with your representative and make eye contact!
- Email. While generally less impactful than phone calls, emails can still be effective, especially when combined with other forms of communication.
- Write Letters. Sending a physical letter is another option that can be more personal than email.
SO... Ready to CALL Your Congresspeople?
Use and share these contact tools with your allies to help influence your members of congress:
Find your House of Representatives member (& CALL them!!):
Find your Senator's contact info: (& CALL them!!):
Fun fact: I was once told by a congressperson's staffer that they assume that the opinion expressed by a single caller is shared by about 10 other constituents who are simply not bothering to call... but may bother to vote on the issue! So make that call!! It really counts!
