Only 4 bothered to respond

[KentuckyWoman]

I have spent the last 2 weeks attempting to email every single Congress and Senate person.

6 had broken links that made it hard to find the contact page. All Republicans.

42 automated an acknowledgement my email was received. All but 2 were Democrats.

4... Only 4... Actually responded to the substance of my letter. Sherrod Brown responded twice. One was obviously a staffer. The 2nd was 4 sentences that may have come from him, I would assume through staff. I do not live in Ohio.

It is summer. I realize they tend to relax this time of year. But come on. With all that is happening.... This response rate is abysmal.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. From time to time,

while it should never be necessary, I remind my representative who they work for. Also, imo, politicians need support on the ground to keep them in office, remind them of that as well.

[Sophia4]

2. Representatives generally only respond to the constituents from the area they

represent.

I don't know about senators, but at least you can contact them more easily than you can contact the representatives from areas you don't live in.

That has at least been my experience.

[EffieBlack]

3. Their offices get inundated with mail - so much more now because of automation

Most just don't have the time or resources to answer mail from non-constituents. They also know that the out-of-area mail is often generated electronically, so it doesn't have the same impact or influence on them.

You're right - it's easier for people to reach their own representatives. I always advise folks to do that, rather than contact others, in order to have maximum effect.

[fallout87]

5. THis

There's no point in emailing Senators/congresspeople from states you dont reside in. They are elected by people in their states/districts

[Sunlei]

4. post the names of broken links elected. good link page- https://www.govtrack.us/

https://www.govtrack.us/

[EricJohnson]

6. Call them on the switchboard 202-225-3121. I am always ready with

a zip code from their state.

[shraby]

7. They sure can take donations from out of their area though, can't they?

I've found that even your direct representative if a republican will simply send a form letter often not even addressing anything near what you've complained about.

[lpbk2713]

8. You are not a PAC or a major campaign donor.

If you were you would probably get a personal phone call in response.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. What Fallout87 said.

It is pointless to try to contact Senators or Representatives if you don't live in their state or district. They really don't care, because you will not be able to vote for them, nor for someone trying to replace them.

[Tavarious Jackson]

10. My Senators both Wyden and Merkley respond

They respond to the substance, not automated. Every time. I think Wyden has held more town halls than any Senator ever.

[Petrushka]

11. FWIW: All the letters I've ever sent to anyone in DC by snail mail were answered.

Who knows why?! Perhaps they were seen as worthy of a reply because of the postage stamps I might have otherwise thought I'd wasted?