Ohio Business Votes

Communications Tips

• Tips on Writing Your Legislator
• Tips on E-Mailing Your Legislator
• Tips on Phoning Your Legislator

Tips on Writing Your Legislator
It’s impossible for legislators to know how every bill they pass will affect your employer. A well-written letter will often help lawmakers understand critical elements of pending legislation. If you are not able to personally meet or speak with your legislators, a letter can effectively deliver your message before they take a position for or against a particular bill.

The following tips should guide you in preparing an effective letter. If you get to know lawmakers on a first name basis, your letters will have an added impact.

When Composing a Letter:

• Never make threats or promises.
• Don’t pretend to have vast political influence.
• Avoid becoming a constant “pen pal,” writing on every issue being debated.
• Don’t demand a commitment.
• Personalize your letter whenever possible.
• Try to limit your letter to one page.
• Use your elected official’s full name. Spell it correctly, using the proper salutation and address.

For a state senator –
The Honorable John Smith
Ohio Senate
Statehouse
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Senator Smith:

For a state representative –
The Honorable John Smith
Ohio House of Representatives
Statehouse
Columbus, OH 43266-0603
Dear Representative Smith:

For a complete list of lawmaker names and addresses, visit our General Assembly Directory.

Other Effective Techniques:

• Identify the specific bill or bills you are writing about by using the official bill numbers (e.g., HB 215).
• Use facts to validate your letter, providing specific examples of how a legislative proposal will impact your business and employees. Legislators find good examples of a proposal’s ultimate effect to be most helpful and persuasive.
• If it’s appropriate, mention that you’ve talked with a member of the elected official’s staff and include their name in the letter.
• Clearly state the action you would like your lawmaker to take on the bill (e.g., please vote against HB 215).
• Offer to be available to further discuss the legislation or answer any questions the legislator may have.

Tips on E-Mailing Your Legislator
In general, the same guidelines for writing a letter apply to e-mail messages. With an e-mail message to a legislator, however, it is very important to include your street address in the e-mail. This is the only way a legislator has of knowing that you are a constituent and, in many instances, you may not receive a response if you are not a constituent. Our General Assembly Directory also includes e-mail addresses.

Tips on Phoning Your Legislator
All state lawmakers have at least one staff member in Columbus, and staff members usually handle calls to the legislator's office. Most legislators do not have an official office in the district. Our General Assembly Directory includes the Columbus office phone numbers of all state lawmakers.

When phoning a legislator’s office, you should first request to speak directly with the legislator. If he/she is not available, you may either leave a message and ask that the legislator return your call, or leave a message that states the purpose of your call. (e.g., please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose HB 215.) You may want to ask for your legislator's position on the bill if it is not known and also request a written response to your telephone call/message.

Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent and the name of your employer. If at some point you do get to speak directly with the legislator, it is important to state the reasons why you support or oppose the bill – and to observe the same suggestions as are outlined in When Composing a Letter above.

• The Lawmaking Process
• Legislative Committee Guide