Why write a letter to a representative?

Writing a letter to one of your representatives is one way to have your voice heard in your local, state, and federal governments. Representatives often respond to letters sent to them by the people they represent, also known as their constituents. 

As a student who is under 18 years of age, you do not have the power to vote, but your opinion still matters! Make your thoughts heard by informing your representatives of something you think they are doing well, something you think they should do better, or just informing them of an issue that you care about.

You should take writing this letter seriously! Your representative will take it seriously when it is delivered to them.

Instructions:

1. First, identify a representative that you would like to contact using this website:
   https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
   Enter your address (but not your name) and it will give you a list of all of your elected representatives.

2. Think about the issue you would like to highlight. Is it a local issue, a statewide issue, or even a national issue? Pick the representative to contact from the list based on whether or not you think they could have an impact on that issue.

3. Type out your letter, print it, and sign it with a pen above your typed name. See below for help in writing a letter, or take a look at the sample letter on the shelf to see how you might format your letter.
   You can also click here to download a template to help you write a professional letter.

4. Take an envelope from the shelf and use the address for that representative on the envelope. Add your return address to the envelope. If you are unsure how to address an envelope, see the example envelope on the shelf.

5. Fold your printed letter to fit inside the envelope.

6. Seal the envelope. 

7. Turn your letter in to Mr. Kloster, Mrs. Smith, or Mrs. Werner so that postage can be applied and it can be placed in the outgoing mail.

Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials from the ACLU:

Letters and faxes are an extremely effective way of communicating with your elected officials. Many legislators believe that a letter represents not only the position of the writer but also many other constituents who did not take the time to write.

These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter:

Keep it brief:
Letters should never be longer than one page, and should be limited to one issue. Legislative aides read many letters on many issues in a day, so your letter should be as concise as possible.

State Who You Are and What You Want Up Front:
In the first paragraph, tell your legislators that you are a constituent and identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letters pertains to a specific piece of legislation, it helps to identify it by its bill number (e.g. H.R. ____ or S. _____).

Hit your three most important points:
Choose the three strongest points that will be most effective in persuading legislators to support your position and flesh them out.

Personalize your letter:
Tell your elected official why this legislation matters in his community or state. If you have one, include a personal story that shows how this issue affects you and your family. A constituent's personal stories can be the very persuasive as your legislator shapes his or her position.

Personalize your relationship:
Have you ever voted for this elected official? Have you ever contributed time or money to his or her campaign? Are you familiar with her through any business or personal relationship? If so, tell your elected official or his staff person. The closer your legislator feels to you, the more powerful your argument is likely to be.

You are the Expert:
Remember that your legislator's job is to represent you. You should be courteous and to the point, but don't be afraid to take a firm position. Remember that often your elected official may know no more about a given issue than you do.