Personal visits with a legislator are the most effective method of advocating your issue. Use the following guide to help you make your visit a success.
Download the Advocate's Guide to Personal Visits with Legislators handout.
Before the Visit
- Call the legislator's office. The best opportunity to set up a meeting is during a legislative recess. If the legislator is unable to meet, ask to meet with their staff person handling the issue.
- Make an appointment
- State the name and or number of the bill or issue and your position.
- State your attendees' names, addresses, and affiliations. Notify the office in advance of any changes in this list.
- Confirm the meeting date, time, attendees, purpose, and background in writing.
- Prepare for the meeting
- Plan on the meeting lasting between 15-30 minutes.
- Develop a one-page position paper and make copies to distribute at your meeting.
- Educate yourself about the official - their background, political philosophy and the number of community associations in their district.
- Consider what questions may be asked and develop answers to those questions.
- Be flexible - Legislator's schedules often changed due to urgent meetings, hearings or votes so your meeting many be canceled or delayed. You can always ask to meet with a staff person responsible for the issue.
During the Visit
- Arrive 5-10 minutes prior to the meeting.
- Briefly introduce yourself and other attendees.
- Let the legislator know how many individuals reside in your association(s).
- Mention that you are a constituent and member of CAI.
- Clearly explain your issue.
- Use layperson's terms.
- Use personal experiences to describe how the issue affects you or your community.
- Do not read from your position paper.
- Ask if the official has any questions.Then ask directly for his or her support.
- Pay attention to the response. He or she might be talking with several groups about the issue to determine their position.
- Never argue or act combative with the legislator or staff person.
- At the end of the meetingbe gracious and the legislator or staff member for his or her time:
- Sum up any commitments made by the legislator.
- Offer to provide further information or a meeting with other residents.
- Leave your written position paper.
After the Visit
- Write a personal thank you note to the legislator and any staff with whom you met. Briefly restate your position and include any additional information that may have been requested. Provide a summary of your understanding of the outcome of the meeting.
- Maintain contact with the legislator as the issue progresses. Continue to provide feedback or input to remind the legislator or staff person of your ongoing interest in the issue.