Our email tool makes it simple to send a simple, form email to your legislators and let them know where you stand. But a personalized email to your lawmakers is far more effective. Because legislative staff don’t just tally how many messages come in on a subject -- they separate out how many were individualized, and weight them differently when reporting back to the lawmaker.
Why does it count more? Two simple reasons: It shows you invested more time, proving you care about the issue. And second, it gives you the opportunity to provide a compelling personal story in addition to simple facts about medical aid in dying, ensuring a more persuasive argument.
Here are some tips to writing a strong personalized email:
- Tracking down your legislators: You can find your legislators – and their websites and contact forms – using this tool. You can also use our form email tool, and just update the content within the message before you send it out. It’ll automatically deliver to your elected officials.
- Keep your letter concise. Legislative offices are inundated with emails and requests, and you want to make sure they read what you have to say without becoming overwhelmed by the length and moving onto something else. Make one to three points in approximately 200 - 300 words or less.
- Make it personal. We love to think we make decisions rationally -- based on facts and figures -- but we don’t. Science shows human beings are driven by emotions, and storytelling is hard-wired into our brains. It’s what we remember best, and what we find most compelling. Don’t just list the data behind medical aid in dying, tell your story and share what drew you to this movement.
Always be courteous and respectful. You may vehemently disagree with some – or all – of your elected officials’ views, but you don’t want to let anger over those differences seep into your letter. If someone asks something of you, you’re more likely to agree to their request if they are polite and thoughtful in making it. Your legislators are the same.
