This activity is just as important as asking them to vote yes or no on an issue. The Importance of Making These Contacts State officials spend a lot of time and money to measure public opinion in their districts. They host town meetings, conduct polls, and assign staff to clip the local newspapers. They will read and respond to editori-als, send you information about major initiatives, and respond to most letters and calls they receive. Even more importantly, state officials, or their staffs, will make time to meet with constituents.
Most officials emphasize constituent contact because it helps direct their voting behavior.
They want to know who supports an issue, how many support the issue, why they support it and how it will impact the district. Visiting State Officials State officials have offices in both the state capital and local communities. To find the address and tele-phone number of the local office, check your telephone book under state government listings. Visits to your state legislator or their staff can be done at either office. The best time to visit is when they are in the district office, rather than in the state capital.