# Writing Congress: How Long for a Reply? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959 "2023-12-01T13:46:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/1 "2023-12-01T13:46:22Z")
How long should one respectably wait for a response from US Senator and/or his Staff to respond to a matter submitted electronically? I am growing impatient. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/2 "2023-12-01T14:01:26Z")
I find that if you write them AND send them money that they will respond almost immediatly with a thanks and endless request for more money. And they will introduce you to their friends who also need money and who will also send you endless emails. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/3 "2023-12-01T14:24:18Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > I am growing impatient. Don’t hold your breathe. If they’re not your representative, odds are probably lower than none you’ll get a response. If they are, they’re probably 50/50. Give their office a call - they respond to volume. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/4 "2023-12-01T15:32:58Z")
It varies tremendously. As @Munch says, if you’re not their constituent then you’ll likely never get a response. If you’re expressing a position on a common topic, you’ll usually get a canned response within a few days. If you’re seeking some assistance from the office (arranging a tour, buying a flag, etc.) it may take a couple weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/5 "2023-12-01T16:42:57Z")
I emailed my two senators back when Trump was impeached, urging them to vote to convict. I got replies back from both within a couple days but they were the canned, partisan replies I pretty much expected from them. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/6 "2023-12-01T16:53:12Z")
Now I’ll never hear back from George Santos! sniff… ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/7 "2023-12-01T17:21:15Z")
It depends. Was your letter _strongly worded_? ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/8 "2023-12-01T17:31:48Z")
I wrote my Maryland State senator and got a reply the next day. If they haven’t replied by now they’re not likely to. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/9 "2023-12-01T17:38:40Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If you’re expressing a position on a common topic, you’ll usually get a canned response within a few days. If you’re seeking some assistance from the office (arranging a tour, buying a flag, etc.) it may take a couple weeks. This has been my experience. I write my federal senators or rep about something roughly every 6 months. I’ve never written asking for some sort of personal intercession, so I have no idea how long that might take to get a response, much less an actual result. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/10 "2023-12-02T00:20:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’ve never written asking for some sort of personal intercession, so I have no idea how long that might take to get a response, much less an actual result. I’ve found that this happens pretty quickly - a week or two. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/11 "2023-12-02T00:27:06Z")
It depends on the individual officeholder. The skilled politicians, of either party, know that good constituent services bring votes, and so act quickly on those things. The ones who think public service is a comedy routine, though, tend to ignore such things. ---
**Author:** ![MeepersC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meepersc/32/12088_2.png) [@MeepersC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeepersC)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/12 "2023-12-02T00:28:05Z")
I applied for a passport renewal in January 2021, and a got a response in July 2021 that my picture “didn’t meet standards”. I had travel plans in October 2021, so by Labor Day weekend 2021 I was starting to get worried. I emailed my Congress representative the Friday before Labor Day weekend, and by Tuesday had a response that my passport was on it’s way - I actually received it on Thursday. I think it all depends on the request and what you need - but my representative and his personalized attention made me a voter for him for life! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/13 "2023-12-02T00:41:55Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > It depends. > > Was your letter _strongly worded_? I think that only works with the White Star line. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/14 "2023-12-02T00:46:37Z")
Depends who you are and how much money you have given them. If you are Jamie Dimon (CEO of JP Morgan Chase) you can expect them to respond immediately. You or me…probably never or, at best, a form letter sent by an automated system thanking you for your interest, your opinion has been noted and then asking you for a donation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/15 "2023-12-02T01:26:38Z")
> [@MeepersC](#): > > I think it all depends on the request and what you need - but my representative and his personalized attention made me a voter for him for life! An excellent example of what I said in the previous post: Good constituent services bring votes. Probably plural: He has your vote for life, and you’ve probably also told a bunch of your friends, family, and neighbors, and that’s probably influenced them towards voting for him, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/16 "2023-12-02T02:37:02Z")
In my experience, if I write to my Congresswoman about a general issue, I get a general automated response. If I write to her disagreeing with a particular stance she’s taken, I get no response. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/17 "2023-12-02T02:56:38Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I think that only works with the White Star line. You’re all wet! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/18 "2023-12-02T02:57:13Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I think that only works with the White Star line. Unless they put you on ice. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/19 "2023-12-02T03:00:47Z")
I get an automated response that thanks me and says my opinion has been noted. Which I take to mean they tally the comments on a particular issue as one metric to gauge the public sentiment. It may not change anything but it is worth collecting that data for them. Whether they have a computer or unpaid/cheap clerks tabulating this stuff I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959/20 "2023-12-02T03:01:25Z")
Our local US Congressperson has helped us twice, and fairly quickly. I wouldn’t expect responsiveness from any level above that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-congress-how-long-for-a-reply/993959.md?page=2)