Making a phone call to a legislator is the quickest and cheapest way to get get actively involved in advocacy. Calling a legislator is the most direct way that you can make your opinion on an issue known to those who have power to support or reject policies. However, making a phone call can seem like a daunting process especially if you have not done it before.
We have compiled a guide to answer some common questions about the process to help you get started:
What happens when I call a legislator?
It depends on the legislator and their position. Legislators such as Untied States Senators, Representatives and State Governors serve such a large population that you likely will not be directly connected to them when you call their office. Instead, you might reach a staffer member or a voicemail- and that’s okay too! You should still leave your message with whoever answers the phone if they cannot directly connect you. These staff members take down your message and either relays the message to the legislator or keeps a record of your opinion to tally for data purposes. This is why it is best to have a short message prepared before you call, so you can concisely explain why you are calling, why this issue you speak about is important, and what you want the legislator to do.
Isn’t putting our opinions in writing better or make more of an impact?
Either method can be extremely effective. However, a phone call can be more powerful. Hearing the opinions from voters in their voice adds a personal component that can help make an impact on someone. It is also more difficult to ignore a phone call than a pile of letters or a flood email inbox. A phone call is a way to directly connect to someone and make sure your position is heard by the intended party.
Is it okay to just read off a script?
Especially if it’s your first time calling or are nervous, having a script prepared can be extremely beneficial to help guide you through the call. However, you should always make sure whatever you have prepared is not just a boilerplate message. Personalize you statements with personal anecdotes from your personal experiences or professional ones as a social worker. This will make your call more meaningful and can help persuade the listener.
It may be possible that you are connected to the legislator you were calling or start to engage in a conversation with the individual who answered the phone. This might mean that they will ask follow up questions to what you were speaking on. If you get too caught up in following a script, you might get flustered if they do ask questions. To help with this, make sure you are informed on the issues you are speaking about so you can answer any questions they ask. If you don’t know the answer- that’s okay too! Don’t be afraid to say that you do not know and can get back to them when you do. Most likely though, you will simply be leaving a message.
Who do I call? Can I just call any legislator?
You could- but its not recommended. Politicians want to be in good graces with the voters who live in the district they are representing because they want to earn their votes. So, they are more likely to listen and want to hear from those individuals. Your opinion and position has more weight to the legislators who represent you, so focus on calling those legislators.
Can I just keep calling until I get to talk to the representative completely?
That’s not recommended. Even if you do not talk to someone personally, there are staff members who take down the message and tracks data from callers/voters. Most of the time, phone calls are used to form a consensus of voter opinion in a specific district. Legislators want to know what the majority of voters would want so that they can continue to earn the votes of these constituents and remain in office. If you continue to call repeatedly, whether it be everyday or multiple times a day, this likely will not be anymore effective since it will not count multiple times in the consensus. It’s more effective to get many constituents to call, so that it can be clear that a large number of voters would like a legislator to support or oppose a certain bill or policy. Getting a consensus like this can help sway an undecided legislator to take action in the manner that the voters are calling for.
What should I say when I call? We have compiled a list of tips to help guide you through the call and also have phone script templates to help you get started. Check the tips out HERE and the templates HERE! Good luck and happy calling!
Sources
American Psychological Association. (n.d.) How to call your member of congress. The Psychologist’s Guide to Advocacy.. https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/phone-call
Bergan, D. E. & Cole, R. T. (2015). Call your legislator: A field experimental study of the impact of a constituency mobilization campaign on legislative voting. Political Behavior, 37(1), 27-42.
Butler, D. M. & Nickerson, D.W. (2011). Can learning constituency opinion affect how legislators vote? Results from a field experiment. Quarterly Journal of Political Sciences, 6(1), 55-83.
Dodson, E.A., Geary, N.A., Brownson, R.C. (2015). State legislators’ sources and use of information: bridging the gap between research and policy. Health Education Research, 30(6), 840-848.
Ghoshal, R. (2019). Call your representatives: Connecting classroom learning to real-world policy action. American Sociological Association, 47(1), 51-58.
Hamilton, K. (n.d.) Does calling congress really work? Represent Us. https://act.represent.us/sign/does-calling-congress-really-work
Hertel-Fernandez, A., Mildenberger, M., & Stokes, L. C. (2019) Legislative staff and representation in congress. American Political Science Review, 113(1), 1-18.