sponsored by
(480)-965-5041
or (480) 965-4078
PO Box 873702
Tempe, AZ 85287-3702
advoteam@sundeviladvocates.org
Letters
Legislators still receive many letters from their constituents. Letters should:
- Be brief (no more than one page)
- Be typed (or written legibly) the letter itself should include your name and address because envelopes get thrown away
- Be personal -- form letters do not have the impact of a personally written letter.
Sample layout for your letter
Paragraph 1: State clearly and concisely why you are writing, including what you are asking the legislator to do and why you care. For example, “I’m writing to urge you to vote for HB 2220, the higher education funding bill. As your constituent, I’m counting on your support.”
Paragraph 2: Outline one or two critical points and perhaps a personal example of how the issue affects you or your family. For example, “This bill will provide needed funds to ensure that a quality education at a public university remains affordable in Arizona. I was able to receive a degree at Arizona State University and I want my daughter/son to have that same opportunity.”
Paragraph 3: Ask the legislator to state his or her position and thank them for their consideration. For example, “Can I count on your ‘yes’ vote for HB 2220? Thank you for your consideration of this issue which is so important to me.”
DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN YOUR LETTER!
If your legislator sends you a reply, then it’s time for you to write letter #2. The three typical responses are:
1) Your legislator agrees with you and says they will do what you asked. Your letter #2 should thank them for replying to your letter and also thank them for their support.
2) Your legislator doesn’t agree with you and will not do what you asked. Your letter #2 is to thank them for their reply, to express your appreciation for their honesty in stating their opposition and to say that you look forward to working with them in the future on a different issue. Don’t burn bridges -- that same legislator could be an important vote on the next bill.
3) The third and perhaps most common reply you may receive from your elected official is one that avoids commitment and detail. You are likely familiar with responses such as, “Thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. I will consider the issue carefully and vote based on what I believe is best for all my constituents.” In this case, you may decide to let it go, especially if the legislator has publicly committed to a position on the issue. Or, you can write a second letter asking for more specifics. Your second letter will likely receive more attention and generate a more thorough response than your first letter.