Advocacy The Art of Persuasion By Susan K. Flinn, former Director of Legislative Affairs, Advocates for Youth and Marcela Howell, Director of Public Affairs, Advocates for Youth People use the voting booth to let their elected officials know how well they're doing. But other opportunities and many different methods exist for communicating with policy makers, such as presenting testimony or visiting, calling, sending e-mail, or writing legislators , school board members, or city council members. When you support or recommend a cause or course of action, you are engaging in advocacy which is both a right and a responsibility of a representative form of government.
Advocacy can occur at any time.
You can advocate when you encounter a legislator in the hallway or at the post office. At specific points in the legislative process, advocacy may have more impact on pending bills than it would have at other times. The state legislative research office, League of Women Voters, or office of the Secretary of State can provide information on the legislative process in your state. Use this information when deciding upon the most effective strategy for making your views known to policy makers. You will also find it useful to understand parliamentary procedure the complicated but important system under which legislatures operate.