Does emailing/calling/writing letters to senators actually help?

Question

Does any senator actually read or see any of these? Do the people who answer the phones/read the letters report back to the senator what the overall tone of the letters/calls was? What effect does it have?

Answer 1

It's the staff's job to compile information for the senator as to who's writing/calling in to support/oppose what issue. The senator rarely actually reads a constituent letter unless it's flagged as especially interesting by the staff. I have heard that the most effective means is a personal postal letter, followed by a phone call. Faxes are less effective and email is least effective.

Answer 2

On July 3, 2006 I sent a letter to all three of Carole Migden's offices. One year has passed and the only response I have received from her is a request for campaign contributions. By the way the letters were sent "Registered Return Receipt", they were signed for by staff.
Two months ago Carole Migden called a close friend asking for support. My friend asked her about the July 3, 2006 letter. Migden claimed not to have seen it but promised to get back to my friend within two weeks. Still no call back from Ms. Migden. So the answer is NO and even if they do they choose not to respond in a forthright constructive manner. They do not care to respond to petitions either.

Answer 3

I wrote a letter to one of my senators and got a phone call from one of his aides. Nothing came of the issue that I wrote about so I will vote against him in the next election.

Answer 4

It has effect. My mom gets paid by the state and the state was ging to lower her income and they never did because a ton of people wrote to the congressmen.
It works more effectivly if many people wright about the same thing but, one person writing about something could also have effect sometimes.

Answer 5

Yes it can help. Elected officials are just that--elected. If they displease their voters back home too many times, they are not re-elected. (Post politicians also have huge egos.)

The recent failure of the amnesty bill is a relevant example. Grassfire and other organizations got citizens to sign petitions, email, call, etc. ANd the congress reversed the direction they were going.

I wrote, emailed and called all of my representatives. I wrote, emailed and called the white house. Heck YOUR representatives probably heard from me too. I didn't limit myself to Texas!

And the next time: I'll do it again.

Answer 6

each from time to time. people who artwork for a senator and show his/her letters will call to his/her interest any difficulty that would healthful his/her platform, marketing campaign, and so on. it incredibly is success and timing to have them intercede for you.

Answer 7

The last immigration bill was defeated by a groundswell of opposition. People wrote, faxed, emailed and phoned in such numbers against the bill that there was a 14 vote swing from support to opposition. Did you know that the Congress' phone system crashed because of the volumn of calls.
Normally, they don't listen because not enough of us speak up. But, when we do we scare the heck out of them and they listen.

Answer 8

Yes, politicians DO pay attention. No, I'm not saying they read everything, but they are aware of what interests their constituents.

Answer 9

Yes it works, when we flooded their offices with calls, e-mails, and faxes, they knew we were serious and as a result the amnesty bill failed to pass.

Answer 10

It helps to a certain point.
I know that most here are saying that it stopped that immigration bill. But in reality...this bill had no chance of passing with or without your letters.
Businesses and politicians secretly want illegals here for their own agendas.