Make One Call

Venting on social media may make you feel a little better, for about a minute. But actually calling your elected officials is quite empowering — and it can have a real impact. (Scroll down for more about that.) Activists and legislators alike say phone calls are the most effective way to get a politician’s attention and can affect how they’re thinking and how they vote. And all it takes is a minute of your time. So instead of fighting with someone online that you don’t even know, gather your thoughts, jot down some notes, and dial up.

5calls is an incredibly handy and easy-to-use app that provides scripts for about 50 issues and immediately connects you directly to your particular elected officials. You just plug in your zip code to find your Senators and Representative and you call right from there. The issues are updated regularly. And remember: A personalized message is even stronger than a form script, so don’t be afraid to make some tweaks. Talk about what matters to you. Make it personal. Keep it brief, be polite, and make yourself heard.

• Tip for the Disengaged, the Discouraged, the Stuck in Neutral: Make a recurring calendar alert on your phone — say, once a week, after lunch — and add the 5calls.org link to the invite. That way you can call directly from there when the reminder pops up. While you’re at it, add our Hope Scroll url to the invite and come back here to recharge your optimism supply.

• If the simple thought of making phone calls gives you heart palpitations, no judgement. Skip down to Send One Email.

What if you get voicemail ?

Don’t hang up. Leave your name and your message on the voicemail and don’t forget to include your full street address to ensure your call is tallied. Don’t forget: You’re a constituent. Your lawmakers represent you. Then forward the 5calls link to a friend and encourage them to do the same.

Besides 5Calls, how else can you call?

So you’d rather do it yourself and call directly? Find the phone numbers and websites for all of your federal, state, and local officials via the wonderful USAGOV tool. Just plug in your street address and all of the names pop up, with all of the contact infor. The websites provided will also have the numbers of your elected officials’ local offices in your district. Don’t forget to bookmark USAGOV.

Alternatively, you can call the Congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121 to reach your U.S. Representative, and 202-224-3121 (add those numbers to your Contacts) to reach your Senators, and ask to be put through to their offices. A staff member will pick up the phone.

What happens when you call and why it matters

Here’s some information from Everyday Activist, a lively Substack newsletter also focused on citizen action:

“When you call your legislators’ offices, you won’t be speaking directly to them. Instead, a staffer or intern answers and takes notes on your message.

They’re trained to log every call, and your stance on an issue is recorded. Even if you just leave a voicemail, it still gets counted.

How are calls logged?

Most congressional offices track calls in a constituent database.

Your stance (for or against an issue) is noted.

If enough people call about the same topic, staffers flag it as a high-priority issue for the legislator.

The more calls legislators receive on an issue, the harder it is to ignore.

Why call If your Rep already agrees with you?

Even if your representative supports your stance, calling reinforces that they have strong constituent backing. It never hurts to say thank you.

It helps them justify taking stronger action.

It gives them more leverage when negotiating with colleagues.

It shows other lawmakers that public opinion is mobilized.

Why call if your Rep disagrees with you?

Even if your legislator is on the opposite side, your call still matters. Here’s why:

They track public sentiment. If enough people call, it signals growing opposition—even if they don’t change their vote, they might soften their stance.

It builds pressure. Reps are always thinking about reelection. If they see a shift in their district, they’ll take notice.

Does one call make a difference?

One call alone won’t change policy—but thousands can. Offices often say:

10-20 calls on an issue = noticed

50+ calls = flagged as a growing concern

Hundreds of calls = priority issue

So make a recurring event on your calendar to call once a week. Or once a day. And encourage your friends and family to do the same.

How to make your call more effective

Be clear and direct (“I urge [Senator/Rep Name] to vote NO on [issue]”)

Keep it short (staffers take notes quickly)

Say if you’re a constituent (they prioritize calls from voters in their district/state)

Example:

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], I’m a constituent from [Your City, State]. I’m calling to urge [Senator/Rep Name] to vote NO on [issue]. This issue is important to me because [1-2 sentence reason]. Thank you.”

Calling works. Keep the pressure on.

Follow up with an email or letter.

Encourage friends and family to call, too.

When constituents flood congressional offices with calls, policy shifts happen. 

Your voice counts.