Tips for Communicating with Elected Officials

Vote. At the end of the day, elected officials care about the opinions of registered voters who are likely to get out and vote.

Do Your Homework. Be Informed about all pertinent issues you may wish to discuss with your legislator or other elected officials and about the issues that concern you. Make sure your communications are directed to the right people - a city council member can't do anything about a federal court ruling.

Set Priorities.  Focus on the BIG thing and don't dilute your message with a long list of requests.

Communicate When Votes are Pending. One of the most effective times to communicate is when a bill is pending. Keep the communication brief and to the point - tell your representatives how you want them to vote.

Be Reasonable. Do not overstate your case or you risk losing your credibility. Do not deliver ultimatums or threats. 

Humanize the issue. How is this affecting your child? How is this affecting you personally? 

Meet Your Legislator in his/her home district, if possible. If you are planning to visit an official,

1. Make an appointment. Don't drop in - elected officials are busy people.
2. Always introduce yourself. Officials meet many people. There is a possibility that you may not be remembered even after multiple visits.
3. Be brief and direct. Don't bring a laundry list of requests. Focus. 

Tell Them Thank You. It isn't uncommon to neglect to thank elected officials for their service and their actions, but it can be an important step to praise them for following through on your requests.