Guide to Calling Your Elected Officials
It's as easy as 1-2-3
Step 1: Look Up & Save Their Numbers
Your federal representatives include:
Two U.S. Senators
One U.S. House Representative
Find their office numbers by typing in your address here: Congressional Directory
Pro Tip: Save these three numbers in your phone to remove barriers to action. Having them ready means you can call at a moment’s notice!
Step 2: Have a Good Reason
When you call, have a clear request — a specific action you want them to take, such as:
Vote for or against a bill
Co-sponsor legislation
Speak out on an issue
These calls are tallied, and at the end of each day, members of Congress are briefed on the top issues their constituents called about. Your call matters!
Step 3: Use This Simple Script
"Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [Your City, State]. I am a constituent, and calling to ask [Senator/Representative] to [specific action]. This is important because [brief reason]. Thank you for your time."
You don’t have to be an expert! Junior staff or interns take these calls — they log your request and move on. Keep in mind that these young people aren’t calling the shots and get a lot of abuse on the phone. Please be kind, even if you disagree with their boss.
Bonus: Keep Up the Pressure
Follow your reps on social media. Praise them when they do good, call them out when they don’t.
Show up to town halls and public events.
Sign up for their newsletters to stay informed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How often should I call?
Once per weekday (phones typically aren’t answered on the weekend) when there’s an active issue. If you care about it, they need to hear from you.
Do phone calls really make a difference?
Yes! Offices take calls more seriously than emails, petitions, or tweets. It signals strong public interest and voter engagement.
What if my Representative/Senators already agree with me?
Still call! Encourage them to take action, rally their colleagues, and push leadership. Further, people typically only call when they’re upset, so calling to say ‘thank you’ to a leader doing the right thing is worth doing, too.
What if I’m represented by an extremist?
Call anyway. Even if they don’t change today, consistent pressure shifts political calculations over time… because it’s certainly possible the elected official is acting like an extremist because they think that’s what the electorate wants.
What if I get nervous or don’t know what to say?
That’s okay! Your opinion as a constituent matters. If you get flustered, just state your name, location, and request. That’s enough!