Go to a Town Hall Meeting
While letters and phone calls are awesome, face to face interactions are even better. It's a lot harder to say no to someone standing right in front of you (think: Girl Scouts). Members of Congress frequently hold town hall meetings with their constituents when they're back from D.C., so find out when your elected representative(s) are going to be in your area and show up!
You can use our Congressional Scorecards to find out what your Member of Congress has done in the past and get the contact info for their local office.
Top Ten Strategy for an Effective Town Hall Meeting (courtesy of Knowlegis):
- Be Prepared.
Most people don’t approach their Members of Congress with a well-researched, well-rehearsed pitch. Constituents who come to town hall meetings with thoughtful arguments, good data, and persuasive stories always get remembered.
- Tell a Personal Story.
Members of Congress are always looking for firsthand accounts of the impact that policies have on their constituents. Think in advance of how this issue has affected you personally.
- Use Numbers If You Have Them.
Politicians live for one thing: 50 percent plus 1. This keeps them re-elected and employed. Use numbers by mentioning things like, “I have 50 employees,” “I represent 100 people in my union,” or “There are 500 people in my community affected by this bill.”
- Be Respectful.
Some constituents start a conversation with, “I pay your salary so you better listen to me.” It doesn’t matter if you’re talking to your grocer or a public official – starting any conversation with another person in a rude manner is not a very tactful way to persuade them.
- Go in Groups.
Nothing says “listen to me” to a public official like an angry mob. This is not to suggest that you should bring pitch forks and torches to your next town hall meeting, but a chorus is better than a solo performance.
- Talk to Staff.
Every Member brings staff to town hall meetings. Tell them your story before the meeting (also ask a public question during the meeting) and get their business cards.
- Leave Paper.
Any documents passed to state-based staff will likely be faxed to the legislative assistant in Washington who covers your issue.
- Follow Up Politely.
Politely persistent people are more likely to persuade politicians. Congressional offices are often overworked, so an elected official often responds to an individual who just follows up with a phone call a few weeks after attending a meeting.
- Get Your People to Multiple Meetings.
When we heard the same obscure question in Crofton as we heard in Annapolis, my Member of Congress said, “We’d better look into that.” Hearing the same thing in different places signals to a politician that there may be a deeper problem afoot.
- Demonstrate That You’re Not Going Away.
If you continue to show your presence at town hall meetings, the legislator must deal with you, even if it’s only to avoid an uncomfortable encounter at a future town hall meeting.