When reaching out, let your lawmaker know if you are representing members of your local association, be clear in what your “ask” is to the lawmaker and identify legislation by bill number.
Be firm on your position and remember it is OK to disagree. Be sure to follow up with any information requested by your lawmaker and if you do not know the answer to a question they ask, tell them we will find out and get them the information.
Here are a few ways you can effectively reach your lawmakers:
- Meetings: Lawmakers want to hear from their constituents. An in-person meeting, whether back in the district, or at the capitol is perhaps the most effective type of communication. We recommend these meetings remain small and include constituents and businesses within the lawmaker’s district. Be sure to send a thank you not or email summarizing the meeting, the bills and your position on them.
- Email: Excellent at any time and very convenient. Make sure to include your home address for constituent verification.
- Letter writing: Very effective, as it shows that time was spent by the advocate. You can include background materials in a package or send bundles of ‘postcards’ from voters showing wide support for an issue. Timing is crucial, as letters can take up to a week to arrive.
- Phone calls: Good when time is short. They allow for all concerned citizens to participate at a low cost. Be sure to keep your script simple.
- Social media: some members are much more active than others. Thanking them for votes that we support on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook is always appreciated.
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