ShiftSpace

Summary

Yeas and Nays is a space that tranforms any webpage into a means for contacting Congressional representatives. Using Yeas and Nays, a citizen can connect via phone to speak with her representatives, and the resulting shift keeps a record of the call located on the website that informed it.

Screencast Video

How To Use

1. Install the space through the settings>Spaces tab by typing ‘YeasAndNays’ in the ‘install a space’ text box.
2. Initiate the space by pressing the [Shift] key, move your mouse over the [+] icon and click on the YeasAndNays icon.
3. The YeasAndNays widget will appear on the screen where you summoned it.
4. Enter your zipcode in the widget to look up your corresponding Congressional representatives.
5. Choose the Congress person you wish to call and enter your phone number.
6. Check the box that says you agree to YeasAndNays generating a call that bridges your phone to your Congress person’s office.  Then choose whether or not you want to record your call so that others can listen to it on ShiftSpace.
7. Have your phone ready and click the “Call Now & Connect Me” button. Your phone will receive a call almost instantaneously.
8. An automated YeasAndNays phone menu will greet you and instruct you to press 1 on your phone keypad to connect to your Congress person’s office.
9. Once your call is bridged, talk to the representative about your issue. Try to use information on the webpage and refer to your talking points to support your cause.
10. After your call is finished, the YeasAndNays shift will update and tell you that your call is completed.  If you chose to record the call, then you can listen to an mp3 of it now.
11. Your YeasAndNays shift is automatically saved once your call has been completed.  At this point, other ShiftSpace users can see your shift and listen to your phone call to your Congress person.

Tips

Prepare for your call by adding talking point notes in the text area that appears when you activate the “Click to add talking points” handle.
Yeas & Nays calls can only be made between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday, in order to coincide with Congressional office hours.

Credits

Code: Christian Croft
Design: Christian Croft
Congressional Data: Sunlight Labs API

Contact

For feedback, questions, or support, email yeasandnays.shiftspace@gmail.com.