Reaching out to your elected officials is an important way to make sure your voice is heard. Lawmakers pay attention to the concerns of their constituents and a well-timed message can impact their priorities and their ultimate vote. Contacting your elected officials may seem intimidating, but it boils down to three steps:

1. Identify the right official to contact. Different policy matters are considered at the local, state, and federal levels. Visit our “Understanding Major Climate Legislation” article to learn about the roles of various stakeholders, and then visit the “Definition” link below to identify and contact your elected officials at the appropriate level.
2. Decide how you’ll reach out. You can contact most elected officials via a phone call, email, or physical letter — choose the method that works best for you.
3. Prepare what you would like to say. In general, your message should be respectful, concise, and personal. You should clearly identify yourself as a constituent, explain why the issue matters to you, and indicate which specific action you’d like the representative to take. If you’re planning on calling, it may be helpful to pre-write a script or jot down some talking points to stay on track.
   While automated emails and call scripts shared by advocacy groups can be a great starting point, it’s best to personalize your message for the greatest impact. Visit the “Action” link below for further tips on calling your members of Congress.

Every message to an elected official is logged for future reference, so even if you don’t hear back immediately, your input is contributing to that official’s understanding of constituent priorities. If you want to take this a step further, you can comment directly on a specific piece of proposed legislation or even run for office yourself.