Contact your Legislator

There are many ways you can contact your legislator and advocate on behalf of Arizona State University.

Emails

Email is a great way to communicate with your legislators. They love to hear from their constituents via email and often times they reply to you very quickly. They are most effective when a bill scheduled for a committee or floor vote is just minutes away and you can send a quick email to your senator or representatives. A list of state legislative email addresses can be found here.

Letters

Legislators still receive many letters from their constituents. Letters should:

  • Be brief; no more than one page).
  • Be typed (or written legibly) the letter itself should include your name and address because envelopes get thrown away.
  • Be personal; form letters do not have the impact of a personally written letter.

Click here for a sample layout for your letter.

Phone Calls

Using the telephone is also a quick way to let your legislator know your position on a bill. However, legislators can be hard to reach via phone and often times the legislator’s administrative assistant will take a message. If this happens, be prepared–they will ask you for the bill number, and sometimes the title of the bill and what your position is on the legislation. Also let them know you live in their district and are a constituent — always be concise, friendly and appreciative. The legislator will get the message and often times they will call you back. Be prepared to discuss the issue when this happens — ask for your legislator’s view on the bill — it is perfectly fine to ask them how they plan to vote and to also ask them for a commitment to vote for your position. A list of state legislative phone numbers can be found here.

Public Appearances

If you meet your legislators at a public event, it is appropriate to ask them about issues. Keep your questions short and to the point. Make sure your question is specific: “Will you vote for HB 2220?” or “Will you support increasing funding for higher education?” Do not use a public forum as an opportunity to argue with your legislator. If you disagree with their response or find it inadequate, discuss this with them after the forum, schedule a meeting in their office or send a letter outlining your concerns.

Personal Visits

Meeting personally with your senator or representative is still the most effective way to advocate. Here are some important tips:

  • Schedule an appointment in advance. Be courteous.
  • Arrive on time, but don’t be disappointed if your legislator is delayed or even if they are unable to meet with you due to unexpected legislative business. Offer to discuss the issue with the legislator’s staff and offer to reschedule your meeting.
  • Keep your visit to the time allotted — unless the legislator would like to have a longer meeting.
  • Organize your thoughts in advance and prepare an outline for your meeting.
  • Identify the subject by bill number and title.
  • Be polite and friendly. If you disagree with your representative graciously listen to their explanation. You may disagree on this issue, but there will be issues in the future where you may agree.
  • Always be polite and friendly to the staff of your legislator. Legislative staff are very important to the elected official and you can count on them to deliver your message.
  • Leave a summary of your talking points and position.
  • After the meeting, send a thank you note or follow-up letter.