Stay abreast of his or her positions on issues through public statements, votes taken on issues and print and broadcast media reports. Finally, again realize that a legislator is a busy person. If you are asked to speak with a member of the staff, don't take that request as an insult or a sign that your visit is not important. Sometimes talking with a staff member is as good as talking with the legislator. The staff members have a great deal of input with the legislator on issues and in talking to a staff member you would be talking to the person who briefs the legislator on your very issue.
Legislators really do want to hear from their constituents.
Because legislators make decisions on thousands of items of legislation, they look to their constituents for guidance on how to vote on the many proposals on which they have not yet formed an opinion. Legislators commonly cite situations when fewer than half a dozen letters or telephone calls from constituents influenced a decision on a particular issue. Here are some suggested guidelines to follow when writing your legislator. Avoid using form letters. Write in your own words using examples from your experiences and your community.