Letters or e-mail have become the main form of voter contact and the prime source of constituency views. Your senators and representatives need to hear from you. Writing an effective letter to your senators or representatives is not a difficult task. Here are a few guidelines to ease you along.
| 1 | Personal Letterhead | Write on your personal letterhead and sign your name over your typed signature at the end of your message. |
| 2 | Exact Address | Be sure your exact address is on the letter, not just the
envelope. Envelopes sometimes get thrown away before the letter is answered. |
| 3 | Identify Subject | Identify your subject clearly. State the name of the
legislation you are writing about. Give the House or Senate bill number, if you know it. |
| 4 | State Reason | State your reason for writing. Your own personal
experience is your best supporting evidence. Explain how the issue would affect you, your family, business, profession – or what effect it could have on your state or community. |
| 5 | No Form Letters | Avoid stereotyped phrases and sentences that give the
appearance of form letters. They tend to identify your message as part of an organized pressure campaign – and produce little or no impact. |
| 6 | Be Reasonable | Be reasonable. Don’t’ ask for the impossible. Don’t
threaten. Don’t say, “I'll never vote for you unless you do such and such.” That will not help your cause; it may harm it. |
| 7 | Ask Legislator's Position | Ask your legislator to state his/her position on the issue in their reply. As a constituent, you’re entitled to know. |
| 8 | Timing | Consider the factor of timing. Try to write your position
on a bill while it is in committee. Your senator and representatives can usually be more responsive to your appeal at that time rather than later on when the bill has already been approved by a committee. Of course, this is not always the case. Sometimes your legislator may reserve judgment– and his/her vote – until the sentiment of their constituency has crystallized. |
| 9 | Thank you | Thank your legislator if you are pleased with their vote
on an issue. Everybody appreciates a complimentary letter – and remembers it. On the other hand, if his/her vote is contrary to your position, don’t hesitate to let them know. They will remember that, too. |