Turn Your Tweets Into Messages to Politicians With This Chrome Extension
Now, more than ever, we all have a habit of talking about politics on Twitter and Facebook.
Want to turn all this grudge into something more useful? Here’s your chance to make your anger heard (if you use it sparingly).
If you’d like to officially voice your complaints, you can now download ePluribus, a free Chrome extension that turns any sarcastic tweet, Facebook post, or even news item into an email for your local congress members.
How it works? After downloading the extension from the ePluribus website , you will need to create a “Civic ID” or login that uses the address information to locate your local representatives (if you are concerned about your privacy settings, they will not provide from this information).
The company will then send you a physical card with a verification code to verify your address. By using this, ePluribus will ensure that you are a verified member from the city / state of the politician and not a spammer, which is indicated whenever a politician receives your message (you can still send messages without verifying yourself as a member, however, if you want to start).
Once set up, you can click the ePluribus icon or go directly to Twitter or Facebook to write your message. Under each message, you will have the option to select your local representatives (as well as Trump and Mike Pence) as recipients.
The site also maintains a number of news sites such as The New York Times and NPR, and operates a little differently. After reading the article, you will find the option to send a message to your reps, which is very similar to the comments section. It also gives you the option to post anonymously, unlike your social feed, where your posts are obviously public. The recipient will also receive a backlink to the story if they seek context for your comments.
How is this different from sending a message to your local representatives directly? Well, you are, for example, a proven participant. Your spokesperson (or whoever reads your message) will know that they can really matter to you personally, and you are more likely to hear a response.
And that’s a giant step above sending a tweet to the abyss. We previously noted that reps are much less likely to check Twitter and other social media for your posts (although, as reported by the New York Times , a cold call may still be the best way to reach your local congressional members).
So what’s the etiquette to email a state senator? First, don’t spam them as their personal reader. They also have jobs. And use general courtesy when addressing you if you want your voice to be heard well. Remember, most of the time your post is read by a politician employee, so you don’t need a rude email. Be brief and, if possible, describe how the story affects you personally.
As reported by the New York Times , don’t be afraid to discuss an issue that’s already being discussed on social media (or feel like someone else has already done the job for you). Power comes in numbers, and every email can really make a difference.