How to Contact your Electeds

It's overwhelming at first, but I'm here to help!

So, you want to get more civically engaged? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

First of all, I just have to say, I’m proud of you. You want to have your voice heard beyond the ballot box and that’s HUGE!

When should I contact my electeds (those who were elected to their positions)?

The reality is they are only employed as long as they are elected, and they constantly need that reminder.

Republicans contact their electeds much more than Democrats do, weekly, in some cases, which is one of the many reasons the Overton window (what is considered normal in politics) has shifted. If electeds only hear from their Republican constituents, of course that will effect how they vote. That’s how it should be. They are the ones making their voices heard.

So that needs to stop. All our electeds need to hear from us too. And I PROMISE you, it will have an impact.

How do I remember my electeds’ numbers?

Add them to your contacts, or even your speed dial, if you want, you’re going to be calling them A LOT. And I mean all electeds, from President down to city council, maybe even school board. If you can find their contact info, they should be in your phone. And make sure to include both their local number and their number at the Capitol. You want to call both numbers when you call, if possible. The tallies are for the offices not the elected, so calling both does have an impact.

What if I don’t want to call?

1. Leave a voice mail. If you don’t want to talk to a person, no matter the reason, you can always call after hours. But keep in mind, if the voice mail box is full, you have to contact them another way. And, before you call to leave a voice mail, write down what you’re going to say so there aren’t any long awkward pauses on the answering machine.

2. Send an email, use social media or ResistBot. You can write an email, or even use social media. You can DM them, leave a comment, or even mention them in your own post, or do all three. ResistBot is also a great option. You text a number the organization gives you and they send letters, that you can edit, to your electeds. It doesn’t work for every office, but it works for many.

3. Set up a meeting. You might be able to set one up in person or on Zoom, or join another group in their meeting, like Indivisible or Working Families Party, for instance. It never hurts to ask if it’s an issue that matters to you.

4. Go to the floor. And, the legislative floor is also called “the people’s house” for a reason. In many cases, especially at state and local level, you can be there in person while a bill is being discussed, and there may even be a period for comment. This is most true at school board level. There are usually groups doing this as well.

There are so many options. If you think of it, it’s probably possible.

What about the call itself?

I promise it’s less nerve-racking than you think. A staffer will likely answer the phone and ask what you’re calling about. Keep in mind, most staffers are young. You’re not going to be talking directly to your elected in this first conversation. These young staffers don’t know everything, and sometimes, if you’re convincing enough, you might not just convince them to reconsider their position, but their boss too. And yes, this also goes for Republican electeds.

You have to tell them your name and your zip code. And if you don’t tell them, they’ll ask for it at some point, so don’t worry if you forget.

And then you just talk. Typically, in my experience, they stay mostly silent until you are done expressing your position, but sometimes they’ll ask questions or ask for more info.

And, always get the staffer’s name, creating a bond overtime will really help.

What if I’m angry at my elected, can I show them how I feel?

It is imperative that you are respectful.

It is very possible that the TikTok bill passed because electeds who voted for it got several rude, if not downright threatening calls. Some of them were even played on the news.

Being disrespectful to your elected, or, as we already established, their young staff, will NEVER get you what you want. And it might just convince them to not support your position.

Even if you have the worst elected possible, find a way to express your anger respectfully and constructively every single time.

Should I use a script?

If you call or email and use a script, your comment will be tallied. That means they keep track of how many people called or emailed with that position, and that’s the end of it. However, if you can, giving your own thoughts with your personal viewpoint, might not just be tallied, but also include a note to the elected with your unique POV. Again, tallies are good. They DO have an impact, but if you can use your voice, please consider doing so.

And if you do read from a script or want one for reference, chances are

Jessica Craven

has you covered. Her newsletter, “Chop Wood, Carry Water” comes out six days a week, and, among other things, always includes some things you need to contact your electeds about that day.

She probably won’t have your state and local issues, but you can always use her script as an example for what to say.

And, if you want to get into the nitty-gritty, Indivisible has a new playbook on this kind of activism that’s 32 pages long and it will be really helpful to at least skim. They also have ideas concerning scripts, and tips for calling in general.

Do I have to be a registered voter to call?

No, not at all! In fact, I’ve been calling my electeds since I was seven. Sometimes it makes even more of an impact if you’re still a minor and you care enough to have your voice heard.

It’s not just about age either. Whether you voted for them or not, your electeds represent you. You are their constituents so you ALWAYS have the ability to let them know how you feel.

And you never need to let them know your party affiliation either. You are just trying to convince them that your opinion matters. Use whatever tactics you have to get them to listen. Except being rude, as we talked about above.

How often should I call on a given issue?

If it’s dire, you can call a couple times a day, but typically, if it’s not being voted on within a week, daily or weekly is just fine.

Keep in mind, when something is still in committee, you might be calling the committee chair or ranking member rather than your own elected.

But, even when there isn’t a bill, I think we need to get into the habit of calling all our electeds least biweekly (that means once every two weeks). Remind them of the issues you care about, or the bills that they should be looking out for but might not have come across their desk yet, or you can even just ask how they’re doing, this will be especially important for Democrats going forward.

We’re trying to create connections.

My friend was a staffer for a Dem member of Congress and she always tells me how only Republican constituents called her. She never heard from a single Democrat. And one particular constituent was MAGA, and she called every week or so. On Jan 7, 2021, this constituent called, as she usually did, and she said that she supported what happened at the Capitol, but she cared about my friend and the rest of the staff and wanted to make sure they were okay.

Obviously, we don’t want to emulate her views, but her tactics were pretty spot on.

Okay, I called, they voted, what now?

Now comes the second step. You see how they voted, and then you contact them again either thanking them or expressing your disappointment. Again, RESPECTFULLY.

How can I find out how they voted?

For US Congress, clerk.house.gov is your best resource. For Senate, it’s not as easy. Your best bet is to Google the bill number, like HR 9495 (This is a House bill we’re still trying to keep from passing, but the point still stands), and “roll call” or “vote.” You might also want to include which legislative body you are looking for, like “House,” “Senate” or “CA Assembly.” Some bills might be harder to find than others, especially immediately after the vote. Usually, vague news articles come up first. Be patient or use Google Verbatim, it gets rid of all the AI responses, just leaving the actual search results.

Tools —> All Results —> Verbatim

And that’s kinda it. Trust yourself. You’re smart and your words matter. Don’t ever think you shouldn’t use your voice to contact an elected. It is part of our civic duty, it’s just a part that Democrats, on average, need to exercise more. But, with just the fact that I made this guide, I can tell that’s about to change.

And if you need more advice, my DMs on all platforms are always open, or you can email me or comment below.

You can find me on TikTok, IG and Threads under ariella.elm, and Blue Sky under ariellaelm.