Call your representatives!
Some of the most common advice/calls to action I have seen in these first couple months of the Trump administration have been to call your representatives. This was pretty intimidating to me, as until recently the most I had done was write emails to them. I've now called my representatives a few different times and am starting to get the hang of it. Here are some things I've learned for anyone that has yet to call their own reps:
- Make use of 5 Calls, it covers a wide variety of issues and helps walk you through the process. All you need to do is enter your zip code and select an issue you want to call about.
- So far I have only called the DC office. I have heard advice to call both that and the local office closest to you, but any call is better than no call.
- Note that local offices are frequently lightly staffed, so you are more likely to hit voice mail, and the staff may not get back to it for a few days. If your issue is urgent, it may not be as useful to call.
- Make a script!
- 5 Calls provides one, but I find it helpful to expand on it. When leaving a voice mail (which I highly recommend if you are nervous about calling) you need to leave your full address. I've stumbled over that, so writing it down ahead of time has made it easier on me.
- It's best to riff on the provided script a little, so when making my own script I tweak a few sentences to make it my own voice. You don't need to worry about this for your first few calls, getting your call tallied and getting familiar with the process is the most important part.
- This is especially important if you are sending physical mail; form letters are a very low priority to record.
- Call later in the evening! As mentioned above I have always left voice mails rather than speak directly to a staffer/intern. The common advice is that voice mails are still counted, and I have yet to encounter a full inbox so I have always been able to leave a message.
- The above is for if you are requesting your representative vote a certain way. If you need help from their office then it is better to call during the day and to give a phone number.
- If your issue isn't on 5 Calls you can modify a different script to fit your issue. Most calls are structured very similarly, with only a few sentences discussing the issue directly.
- Add their phone numbers to your address book! This makes it easier to call them on a whim, such as when you see a relevant news story and want to make your voice heard.
- Call to thank them, not just demand a vote. We want representatives to vote the way we want, but positive reinforcement (for both them and their staffers) is part of keeping them going.
- Limit your call to one topic, and make your stance clear. This makes it easier and faster for your position to be marked down accurately.
- Keep professional as well. Yelling or being cruel won't make it to the representative, doesn't make any difference in getting your position tallied, and can even get your number blacklisted.
- The whole process takes approximately 45 seconds per call for me. From choosing an issue, writing/modifying the script, and calling I am done in less than 5 minutes.
The most important part for me is to not let perfect be the enemy of the good. Much like how voting alone isn't enough but you should still do it, calling alone isn't enough but you should still do it. I made a few mistakes in my first few calls and you probably will too, but through that process you will become more confident and make fewer mistakes. This is one of the most effective tools we have to make our voices heard, and it's important to use it now more than ever.