How to Write to Your Senator or Representative
There really is a best way to communicate with our legislators
Whether you’re talking federal or state, our representatives are there to “represent us!” But there is a better way to write to them - at least if you want to be heard and your opinion to be counted. The first thing is to be polite. The second is to tell them you are a constituent. If you don’t want to put in your address, then at least the zip code or the area where you live: ABC Hills or XYZ Heights or across the street from the big Costco on Main Street - something like that. What that tells them is that you are a resident, and mentioning landmarks or housing areas lets them know that you are someone they represent.
The next thing is to be clear, to the point, and I really recommend only one page. You can say all you want in one page (if it’s a letter) and three paragraphs if it’s an email. Of course, if it’s a text (SMS), then you have to make it really short - one short paragraph.
So here’s a good template:
These are all good closings for your letter. Keep it formal if you are really mad, but don’t get too casual, or the letter will lose its effect. At the same time, a little humor can make inroads into a difficult or tense political situation that will be memorable for the legislator and may carry it all the way to the vote that you want on the floor of the federal or state legislature floors.
Finally, be prepared for the typical “I read your letter with interest. Thank you for writing to me, and hope to see you next time I’m in your district” letter, with any updates as to what the legislator is or isn’t doing. This letter is merely a recognition that they have received the letter, which is all you can expect. Most federal legislators have staff that can handle these letters. However, an amazing majority of state senators and representatives are their own staff and DO read all their emails and letters. Actually, this is where you can have the most effect, and working within these state legislatures can bring an amazing amount of change and can really represent their constituents very well.
You may be a constant contacter on their list of emails or letters, and that’s okay - that simply says that you are taking an active role in government. This is what the Republic was founded on - participation by the citizens in their government. Without that participation…well…you can see where we are today, which is a result of little or no citizen participation.
The state houses usually have contact information for emails and for their snail mail addresses. The US House of Representatives and the US Senate have email forms that are easy and simple to fill out. In Oklahoma, we have a marvelous app on the iOS App Store and the Android Play Store, which is a total gem.
After you open it up - you can see the whole state's elected officials of the Judiciary, Executive and Legislative branches of government. When you click on the Senate or the House, it takes you to a list, but you can click on “District” or “County” to find your representative or senator, where you will find their email address, phone number, address at the capital, and the assistant who works for that particular legislator. There’s more concise information here than on the state website (Hint: - maybe the state will have this in the future).
There’s every reason in the world to keep good communication with our legislators. The truth is that they really want to know what we think and stop having to listen to lobbyists or pay for polls that are pretty much meaningless anymore. It’s also good for legislators to get used to hearing from us, the voters, as this is how we get the government we want.