Visiting an office in person is ideal, but obviously the most labor-intensive. Make an appointment if at all possible.
The easiest effective way to communicate is via a phone call. Phone calls are more effective than letters or emails, which are easily ignored.
- Pick an issue or bill to support and prepare notes or a script.
- Introduce yourself and share your address and zip code.
- You don’t have to be persuasive; you’re just registering your stand.
- Thank the person you speak with for your time.
A really useful tool for making calls from your smartphone is at 5calls.org. You can get it free for either iPhone or Android. You set it up by entering your home address and it will find phone numbers for all your Senators’ and Congressperson’s Washington and local offices.
You begin a call by choosing from a frequently updated list of issues. Select an issue and you are taken to a details briefing page with links to sources. Don’t worry; just read as much as you care to — you’ll be provided with a simple script when you make the call.
