If you do not know the name of your local state Representative or Senator, click the “contact info” button above to look them up – input your street address then search.
GOAL recommends the following means of communicating with your legislators – best practices listed first.
Not sure which legislative district you live in? Look it up here on this easy to use interactive map. You will find your local Representative or Senator’s email address, as well as State House Room number and telephone number.
Looking for Additional Information?
This website is sponsored by the Secretary of the Commonwealth & Elections Division. Just type in your address and it will tell you everything from what precinct you are in and where to vote to who your local and US legislators are.
Contact Your U.S. Senator – click here for contact information.
Contact your U.S. Congressional Representative – click here for contact information.
To make your letter as effective as possible, just follow these four general guidelines:
The Honorable Jane J. Doe Dear Senator Doe: |
The Honorable John Q. Smith Dear Representative Smith: |
For the Senate and House leaders: | |
---|---|
The Honorable Harriette Chandler Dear Mr. President: |
The Honorable Robert A. DeLeo Dear Mr. Speaker: |
For a Committee Chairman: | |
The Honorable ——— Dear Mr. Chairman: |
The Honorable ——- Dear Mr. Chairman: |
You can find the correct room number for state senators, representatives, and committee chairmen online.
Here’s a sample letter:
Date Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXX, As your voting constituent, I am writing today asking that you review and hopefully sign onto the proposed legislation by Gun Owners Action League (GOAL). The 2018 legislation is laid out below; please note the deadline for signing onto legislation is 2/1/2019. (insert your own example of how this law would affect you) There are many other points of contention in both proposals, I won’t take up your time going through them line by line, instead I would urge you to speak with Jim Wallace at GOAL about making reforms which will help instead of criminalize MA gun owners. Sample GOAL Legislation:
Click here for a summary of GOAL’s legislation. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration on this matter. Best Regards, Your Name Your Address cc Gun Owners’ Action League |
There are times when you will want to communicate with your legislators about legislation that is important to you. Many people are nervous about calling their legislators for the first time. Don’t be – it is their job to listen to what you have to say! Please keep in mind though that you should always be polite, concise and to the point. The old adage that you catch more flies with sugar than you do with vinegar holds very true in the political world.
Find your legislator’s contact information: http://www.state.ma.us/legis
When you are communicating your wishes to your elected representatives, you are exercising your constitutional rights.
If you are using the telephone, you may not be able to talk to the legislator directly. In that case, you should ask to speak to the aide that will be handling that legislation for your representative or senator.
Use the same guidelines as above:
Writing emails
In today’s high tech world, many people find email as an efficient tool to communicate with those who they may not have previously. Certainly, any contact with legislators is better than none at all. However, email has far less impact than a phone call or traditional letter. If you do use email to connect with your state legislators, here are a few tips:
Rules Of Thumb
Whether you are writing or calling, here are some general guidelines to follow: