Tips to Consider When Communicating with Your Legislator

Communicating with a legislator can be an effective way to advocate for a cause or express your opinion on an issue. Here are some tips on how to effectively communicate with a legislator:

1. Identify your legislator: Before you communicate with a legislator, you need to know who they are. Visit the Take Action page to look up your legislator. Additionally, you should review the legislator’s bio on their website, the news about legislative actions they’re involved in, and find out if you have anything in common with the legislator that you can share during your meeting.
2. Be clear and concise: When communicating with a legislator, it's important to be clear and concise. State your position on the issue and provide any relevant information or evidence to support your position. Be respectful and avoid using inflammatory or derogatory language. Your time is short, so take advantage of every second. Be prepared for a meeting that can be as short as 2-3 minutes or as long as 15-30 minutes. Tip: Make the issue about the legislator’s constituents, not yourself. This will demonstrate the influence and impact of the issue on the voters.
3. Choose the right method: Legislators can be contacted through various methods, including phone calls, letters, emails and social media. Choose the method that you feel most comfortable with and that is most likely to reach the legislator. In person, phone calls and emails/letters are generally considered the most effective methods of communication.
4. Be persistent: Don't be discouraged if you don't receive a response right away. Legislators receive a lot of correspondence, so it's possible that the office may be delayed in responding or that your message may get lost in the shuffle. Follow up with a phone call or email to make sure your message was received.
5. Work with others: If you're part of a group that shares your concerns, consider working together to communicate with the legislator. A group can have more impact than an individual, and can show the legislator that there is a significant level of support for a particular issue. (See the ACA Guidance on Starting a Coalition)
6. Thank the legislator: Whether or not the legislator agrees with your position, it's important to thank them for their time and consideration. Showing gratitude can foster a positive relationship and make it more likely that the legislator will consider your position in the future.