Contacting your elected officials is nerve-wracking. Here's how to do it anyway

Whenever something big is happening in the news, one of the pieces of advice we see most is to “call your elected officials and let them know you (agree/disagree) with this (bill/policy). Now, as the U.S. experiences an unprecedented level of political upheaval and uncertainty, more and more of us are probably taking that advice.

As a journalist, my job is to bring objectivity to my reporting, but I’m also a citizen. I care about what’s going on in our country, and I vote. 

Recently, I reached out to my state and federal officials about a policy I disagreed with, and one which falls outside the realm of topics I would ever report on in my current job.

Now, I am a well-informed citizen, and I communicate for a living, so the idea of reaching out didn’t intimidate me — at first. However, when I sat down to make those phone calls, I found myself very nervous and uncomfortable.

• Would I need to identify myself and my location? In our current political climate, where political opponents are doxxed, swatted and even killed, it was frightening to reach out to officials representing a different political party.

• Would I be talking to a live person? If so, would they be nice or dismissive?

• What would I say? Would I need to explain my concerns about the policy, or simply state my opinion?

Despite my fears and discomfort, I made those calls, and I felt good about doing it. But it got me thinking about demystifying the process for you, so you can also reach out, if you wish, and make your voice heard without the fear that I felt.

Who answers the phone when you call an elected official?

In most cases, you won’t be speaking directly to your representative, especially if you’re calling a state or federal official. At the local level, however, you could conceivably be transferred to the official if they’re in the office that day.

Most often, however, you’ll be talking to a staffer, volunteer or voicemail. In any case, the point is to log the call, pass the message along and tally the number of calls on each side of the current debate or question. They are not there to debate or interrogate you, nor are they likely to say anything that would make you uncomfortable. 

Constituent services is a major part of the administrative function of an elected official’s office. Those staffers answer calls like yours all day long, especially when there’s a lot of heat around a topic. There’s nothing for you to feel nervous or self-conscious about.

What happens when you call your representative’s office?

In my case, the calls lasted under a minute or two. In the case of each of my state representatives, a live person answered the phone, asked a question or two, and politely signed off. 

In the case of my federal officials, the calls each went to a voicemail from the respective congressional reps with instructions on which information to leave.

One thing that was interesting was that in all but one case, I was asked for my name and either a street address or email address. In one case, however, I was not asked for any information.

In every case, I simply stated what I was concerned about and that was the end of the conversation. No one asked for me to elaborate on the issue, nor did they try to argue or make me feel like they either agreed or disagreed with me. They simply recorded the call and the message. 

Do you need to have a script when you call an elected official?

You don’t need to have a script, but if you’d like one, you can easily find one or get ChatGPT to help you generate one. Some websites and apps offer scripts along with contact information and a list of your current elected officials.

Not sure who to reach out to? Here are a few resources to help you get started:

• USA.gov - Find your elected officials (government official): A source for locating federal, state and local representatives.

• Democracy.io - Contact Members of Congress (Nonpartisan): A project supported by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) that provides simple, nonpartisan tools to email, tweet, or call members of Congress.

• Open States - Find your state legislators (Nonpartisan): Recommended by official state sites and non-profit organizations for finding state-level officials and their contact information.

• 5 Calls - Make your voice heard (action-oriented): An app and website that, while often used for progressive causes, provides nonpartisan, direct phone numbers and scripts for calling officials, focusing on making the process accessible for any issue.

• Find Your Representative | house.gov: The direct U.S. House of Representatives directory. 

If you’re politically active, you may find scripts associated with a topic you’re concerned about, but unless you have severe anxiety around phone calls (which is a thing many people have), you probably won’t need one. I think it’s probably just as effective to clearly state your opinion rather than to rattle off a long pre-written script. 

You don’t need to memorize statistics or legal language. Most of all, you don’t need to go in with a combative attitude. I talked to those who did and didn’t agree with me during my calls, and both were perfectly polite. 

Here’s a simple call outline anyone can use

Rather than a rigid script, use this flexible framework for your call:

• Opening: Who you are (a constituent, your name, your ZIP code

• Middle: Why you’re calling and what your position or concern is

• Closing: What you want noted or passed along to your representative

If you jot these things down, you’ll have somewhere to go if your mind goes blank or if you get tongue-tied. 

Remember, it’s okay to pause and gather your thoughts. It’s okay to be nervous. Just remember that you have a right to ask your representative (or their assistant) to hear your concerns.

What happens after the call?

Calls are logged, tallied and categorized by the representative’s staff or constituent liaison. They may or may not follow up. You may or may not be put on a mailing list. Either is normal.

While one phone call won’t necessarily change the representative’s mind, volume does matter, and some representatives are willing to change their views based on the volume of responses from their constituents.

One benefit of making those first calls? The next ones come easier. The first calls remove the mystery from the process and help you build confidence.

More Frequently Asked Questions about calling your elected officials

Is it better to call or email an elected official?

Phone calls are usually logged right away and counted by issue, which means they register faster — especially when an issue is time-sensitive. Email still matters, but because it’s a lower lift and because many emails are mass-produced “form letters” from an organization, they may not get as much attention.

If you’re choosing one, a call provides a clearer signal. If you want to follow up with more detail later, email works well as a second step.

Can I call if I’m not an expert on the issue?

Yes. You’re not expected to sound like a policy analyst. You’re calling as a constituent, not a witness at a hearing.

In fact, most calls aren’t technical at all. They’re simple statements of concern or support. You don’t need to know the bill number (though it’s helpful if you’re giving your preference on an upcoming vote), quote research or even defend your position. You just need to be clear about where you stand.

What if I disagree emotionally and get upset?

That’s not unusual, and it’s not a failure. Political issues affect real lives, so emotion comes up. If you feel yourself getting flustered, it’s okay to pause, slow down or say something like, “I want to make sure I’m clear about why I’m calling.”

You don’t need to argue or persuade in real time. The goal isn’t to win a debate; it’s simply to have your position noted. If you lose your train of thought, you can reset. If you need to end the call, that’s okay, too.

Do my calls actually get counted?

Yes. Calls are tracked, categorized and summarized for the office. You may never get a response, but that call is still part of the daily tally that shows what constituents are paying attention to.

One call doesn’t change a vote on its own. But patterns matter, and your call contributes to that pattern.

More tips for contacting elected officials effectively

I found this page from UC Berkeley Library and it is a wealth of information. Here are some of their best tips:

• Emails, letters and phone calls can all be effective ways to communicate with your elected officials. If you just can’t stomach the idea of a phone call, consider a handwritten letter.

• Consider going beyond your direct representatives to the Speaker of the House, Minority Leaders, chairs or ranking committee members.

• While many organizations provide pre-written letters or postcards, a thoughtful, original letter in your own words can be worth 1000 form letters.

• If you choose a letter, keep it to one page max.

• State who you are and what you are writing about in the first paragraph. If you know the name of the bill or specific policy, include it.

• If the legislation you’re writing about will have a personal effect on you and your family, tell that story.

• Personalize the relationship, if possible. If you voted for the legislator, worked on their campaign or donated money to their campaign or to their party, say so. If you’ve met them, attended a town hall or if you have mutual friends, let them know.

• Be respectful, do not use profanity and do not threaten the representative or their staffers.

• Consider following up with a thank you note if the elected official voted the way you wanted or a note expressing your disappointment if they didn’t. In your follow up, let them know how you contacted them previously.

Calling an elected official isn’t hard because it’s complicated. It’s hard because it’s unfamiliar and because most of us don’t get much practice speaking up to the systems we participate in. 

The fear usually isn’t about saying the wrong thing. It’s about being caught off guard, sounding stupid or realizing too late that we didn’t know what to expect.

The call is short. The person on the other end is doing a job, not passing judgment. You don’t need a perfect script or airtight arguments, just a clear reason for calling and the willingness to make your voice part of the record.

The first call is the hardest because it’s the one that removes the unknown. After that, it becomes something you know how to do. So do it.