Tips on Lobbying Elected Officials

We Are All Responsible

The responsibility for influencing public policies that affect the lives of women and their families rests on all of us. 

Whether we are advocates, service providers, social workers, or individuals who care about the equality and well-being of all women, we have a duty to educate policymakers about emerging issues that directly impact women and their families.

Additionally lobbying is a good way for women, in particular, to see that they have particular expertise, and that they bring a unique perspective to the discussion. This may also encourage some women to run for elected office.

First Things First

Register to vote AND vote regularly

Elected officials will frequently check to see if you are a constituent and if you are registered to vote.; If you are not registered, it is unlikely that they will take you seriously. 

Do your homework!

• What is the issue?  Learn about the topic from trusted sources, i.e., organizations that are likely to be involved with that subject.
• Don’t reinvent the wheel.  See if other organizations have developed talking points on the issue, but DO use your own words.
• Learn about the specifics of the issue and any proposed legislation.

For Whom Do You Speak?

• Agency or Organizational Representatives:
  • If you are speaking on behalf of an agency or organization, you need to be fully aware of your organization's positions on the issue, and any new developments or emerging concerns.
  • Know w hat other groups are concerned about this subject, and your organization’s relationship with them.
  • Be aware of your organization’s relationship with legislators and the legislators’ position on this issue.
• As an individual constituent:
  • You have done your homework and know the issue.
  • You are aware of the organizations and groups that support or oppose your position.
  • You have researched the legislators’ position on the issue.

Who is the right person to lobby? (applies to all levels of government)

Determining the right person to lobby depends on how you answer the question:  Who will advance the issue or legislation? Where is the issue or bill in the process?

• Focus on those legislative leaders or members of the committees who will vote on the bill first before it comes to the full house or senate for consideration.
• Your elected representative and/or senator.

Lobbying an Elected Official

Office Visits – Most effective way of lobbying your legislator

• Call ahead to make an appointment to meet with the legislator; if unavailable, ask to meet with the staff person who is handling the issue.
• Preparation for the visit should include:

• Learning the background of the legislator
• Educating yourself on the h istory of the bill or issue
• Checking with other advocates to see if they will be lobbying or have lobbied this legislator and ask for any lessons learned.

Visiting the Legislator (or staff person):

• Be polite and address your Senator or Representative properly.
• Introduce yourself and state what you want to discuss. Be specific, mention the bills or issues.
• Ask what the legislator’s position is on the bill or subject.
• Be prepared to educate the legislator or staff person on the issue.
• Ask if the legislator has heard from others who support the issue.
• Ask if the legislator ha s heard from opponents, who they are and what they are saying about the issue.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, you can say you don’t know.
• Offer to provide additional information only if you can.  Do not make promises you cannot keep!
• Spend more time with your legislators even if their position is not in agreement with yours.  You want to keep the door open for future issues, and you may become a resource for your representative.
• Follow-up with a thank you letter and briefly recap your visit.
• If you are representing an agency or organization, invite legislators to meet you and your colleagues at your work site to help expand their understanding of the issues.

Letter Writing, Email, Mailgrams, and Faxes

Frequently legislators will track the number of written communications they receive on a particular issue. Therefore, writing a personal letter to your legislator can be more effective than a mass mailing of postcards, petitions, emails or faxes.

• Use your own stationery unless you are writing on behalf of an organization; but even organizations should encourage individual letters from their members, staff, clients, or constituents.
• State the name of the bill and subject clearly.
• Address o nly one issue per letter.
• Briefly give your reasons for supporting or opposing the bill, and explain how it will affect you or your community.
• Be courteous and remember to thank your legislator for the work they have done.
• Sign your letter and be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number.

Forms of Address:

U.S. Congress:  Because of security measures, it may be better to send E-mail, faxes or mailgrams instead of individual letters to members of Congress.

Phone calls

Phone calls are also a good way to communicate your position to a legislator; however, you may not get to speak directly to the legislator. In fact, frequently staff will maintain a tally of telephone calls in support of or against particular legislation, taking only your name and address or zip code. So this may be the least effective way of lobbying an elected official, but it is better than no action at all. If, however, you have established an ongoing relationship with the legislator or a staff person, a phone call from you may go a long way toward influencing their position.