Contact Elected Officials
4/4/2025 8:30 am
How to Contact Elected Officials
Want to Take Action but Aren't Sure Where To Start?
There are many federal, state, and local policies that have a direct impact on our school community. Just as we are encouraged to share our stories within the PAS community, we should also share our stories with our elected officials – to let them know how their policies impact our families and our communities, and to advocate for the issues that matter most to us.
This doesn’t just happen during elections, although making our voices heard by voting in every election is extremely important. Another critical piece of participating in our democracy is contacting our elected officials whenever they are making decisions that impact our lives and our communities, and that happens year-round.
The PAS Equity Circle has put together this guide to help you get in touch with your representatives. This guide is not intended to tell you what to say, but simply to give you the tools to have your voice heard.
Whom to Contact:
To make it easier to locate the contact information for your elected officials at the local, state and federal level, PAS parent Helena Miller has put together this handy searchable tool tailored to the PAS catchment. If you would like similar information for a different neighborhood, Helena has offered to help! Email her at hmiller@gmail.com.
How to Contact:
The best way to reach your elected officials is by phone. You can call anytime, multiple times a week, to express your opinion on an issue, seek assistance, or request that your representatives take a certain action (for example, vote yes or no on proposed legislation or hold a townhall in your community). In most cases, phone calls are the most direct and timely way to get your message across; they are typically logged by staff every day. But you can also email and/or write a letter if you prefer (writing letters or postcards is a great way to get your kids involved!)
Plan Your Message:
The thought of cold-calling your representative’s office might feel daunting, but it is literally their job to hear what you have to say. You don’t have to be an expert on an issue to voice your opinion on it. Have a basic plan for what you want to say, and then just be direct and speak from the heart. Be sure to state your name clearly and let them know you are a constituent by telling them generally where you live, like your zip code, city, or neighborhood. If you call and get a voicemail service, leave a message (include your name, zip code, and contact information if you desire a call back). It will be heard and logged.
Additional Resources:
- Vote.org: Non-partisan website providing everything you need to know to get registered and vote.
- USA.gov: Get the names and contact information for the people who represent you on the federal, state, and local levels.
- Vote.pa.gov: Pennsylvania’s official voter information website.
- Committee of Seventy Non-partisan Voter Guide: Find out when the next election is and what’s on your ballot.
