Mitchell Wellman

University of Virginia

Sometimes it may be hard to remember that elected officials work for the public when it's difficult for the public to get in contact them -- whether to express concerns or advocate for change.

Whatever your political affiliations, contact with elected representatives — local, state and federal —is a component of a functioning democracy. But not all methods of communication are equally useful within the public sphere.

The current political tumult has highlighted these communication issues for some citizens and spurred the creation of several campaigns to bridge the gaps. Here are some ways you can make your views heard by your representatives, senators, even the White House.

1. Reach out to your reps

The U.S. Government provides a public database of contact info for your elected officials. Use it.

Pro tip: Do background research, using reliable sources, before firing off an email with your position -- it's difficult to effectively argue an issue with incomplete or incorrect facts.

By the way, you can often use your elected officials' official websites to sign up for email newsletters and other updates. You may also want to follow them on social media and comment directly on their posts.

2. Plan strategic calls, not just emails

As Emily Ellsworth suggests in a New York Times article, phone calls from constituents are often more effective than emails because emails are depersonalized and easily ignored amid other overwhelming requests for contact.

Further, a strategically planned group call has the potential to inundate office phone lines and force a representative to issue a statement to help clear out communication channels. Ellsworth consolidated her six years of experience as a congressional staffer into "Call the Halls," a guide to effectively contacting representatives.

3. Attend town hall meetings

Your representatives will hold local Town Hall events or Q&A sessions where the public is encouraged to attend and voice concerns -- these events are part of their gig. (Think: Leslie Knope's public meetings on Parks and Rec.) You can usually find info about when are where these are set to take place on local official websites or your representative's website.

These sessions focus on direct contact between constituents and representatives. At a town hall meeting you can get up and ask a question. So be prepared to use your time wisely, in a way that will have impact. You may even want to team up other constituents with similar concerns and coordinate ahead of time to prepare questions or concerns. This way, you can cover more ground and ensure that ample time is spent on your pet issue.

Related: New group helps students fix the mess made by politics as usual

Listen closely to the answers to ensure they do not skirt the question. And finally, be sure to publicize on social media or through other means your interactions during the town hall. You can live-tweet the event, for example, tagging the representative in your tweets. Their office is sure to take notice, especially if you get significant engagement.

4. Use digital tools for policy updates and action

You can track the legislation your elected representatives have proposed or contributed to in some way by browsing their respective websites. Once you're aware of bills coming down the pike that your congresspersons and senators will vote on, reach out to them to let them know where you, their constituent, stands.

One tool for this is Countable, which enables you to track pending legislation, learn more about it and contact your rep directly with your views.

5. Get involved with new engagement initiatives

Several movements are getting underway online to encourage voters and activists to make their views heard.

For example, a left-leaning initiative called Indivisible Guide was just launched by group of former congressional staffers. It lends tips on how to make Congress listen to constituents.

Another new lefty political movement is the Daily Action campaign, which alerts subscribers daily via cellphone of a an important political topic based on the subscriber's location.

Keep an eye out for groups like this that align with your political views.

Mitchell Wellman is a student at the University of Virginia and a USA TODAY College digital producer.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.