Contacting Your State Legislator 101

5 Steps To Get Legislators Out Of The Shadows And On To Your Screen

(Spoiler: It's Not As Hard Or Scary As It Sounds!)

Why should/would I contact my State Legislator?

Your role in democracy doesn't begin and end with casting your ballot - although this is an important part of it. Every day, legislators are reading and voting on policy that will change your life. Even with such high stakes, politics can be confusing, complex, and messy. Contacting your State Legislator through Fast Democracy is a quick and accessible way to make your voice heard, hold legislators accountable, and advocate for policy change. Make your State Legislator come out of the shadows and pop onto your screen in 5 easy steps.

Step 1: Head to https://fastdemocracy.com/

Fast Democracy is an online legislative tracking and data analytics tool that has made policy, legislators, and information sharing more accessible than ever.

Step 2: Click on "Find Your Legislators"

Fast Democracy helps you find the right legislator to contact on your path to policy change! Use the detailed information to see how your legislator is voted on key issues and their contact information.

Step 3: Fill out your address

Type in your address so that Fast Democracy can connect you with your local legislators!

Fast Democracy will then give you the names of your closest Representatives (with a handy map with the districts too) Clicking on these names will lead you to the legislator's detailed bio

Step 4: Be Informed. Be Effective. Be Social.

- BE INFORMED: Look through the "Sponsored Bills," "Voting History," "News," and "Tweets" pages to learn more about who your State Legislator is an what they stand for. Scroll further down for their website, email address, Capitol Office address, and committees.
- BE EFFECTIVE: You'll click on "Contact the Legislator" to directly send an email to your Legislator via Fast Democracy (more on that in Step 5!)
- BE SOCIAL: Our social media widgets lets you share what you've learnt and what you're doing with your friends, colleagues, and donors via Facebook, Twitter, and Email.

 Step 5: Contact your State Legislator (Log in to access this function!)

Last step on your way to policy change and citizen lobbying! Fast Democracy will fill in the name of the legislator automatically and provide some writing prompts to insert.  Once you click "send," Fast Democracy will email your message to make sure your voice is heard.

A quick and easy way to tell your legislator about how you feel about a policy, ask questions, and keep the people you elected out of the shadows and held accountable.

That's Fast Democracy!
Be Informed. Be Effective. Be Social.