Letters and faxes are an extremely effective way of communicating
with your elected officials. Many legislators believe that a letter
represents not only the position of the writer but also many other
constituents who did not take the time to write.
These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter:
Keep it brief. Letters should
never be longer than one page,
and should be limited to one
issue. Legislative aides read
many letters on many issues in
a day, so your letter should be
as concise as possible. A subject
line, included below the
address and above the salutation,
can be helpful. For example:
Re: Vote No on S. 2453,
The National Security Surveillance
Act of 2006.
State who you are and why you are writing.
It is important to let
your elected officials know you
reside in their district, represent
a local organization, or have
some professional expertise on
the issue.
Personalize your letter.
Did you
volunteer for the official’s campaign
or vote for him or her? Do
you have a personal story that
shows how this issue affects
you and your family? If any of
these apply, tell them about it.
Provide details. Explain facts
about the legislation and how it
will effect your community. If
you know the elected official’s
position on the issue, talk about
why you agree or disagree and
the action you would like them
to take.
Ask for a response. A simple
phrase such as “Please advise
me of your thoughts on this issue
and if I can count on your support
(or opposition to) the referenced
bill” is a polite way to ask for a
response.
You are the expert. Remember
that your legislator's job is to
represent you. You should be
courteous and to the point, but
don't be afraid to take a firm
position.
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