[Your Name]
[Your Address]

[Today’s date]

The Honorable [Recipient’s Name]
[Recipient’s Address]

Dear [Senator/Representative Name]:

Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and say what you’re writing about.

Example: “My name is Jane Smith and I live in the Town of Surfside. I’m writing to ask you to support/oppose/think about ________.”

Tip: Keep this introductory paragraph short, to just 2-3 sentences. All you need to do is explain who you are and why you’re writing.

Paragraph 2: Provide additional details related to what you’re writing about.

Example: “The Town of Surfside is a beautiful, vibrant community, but over time we’ve experienced challenges with __________. By supporting/opposing/considering _________, you would help us address this issue. Here’s why: _________”

Tip #1: This paragraph can be a little longer than the first one, but still not too long. 3-6 sentences at most.

Tip #2: If you include evidence or statistics to support your position, be sure to also include your sources!

Paragraph 3: Recap the request you’re making.
	
Example: Thank you for the time you’ve taken to read this letter and consider supporting/opposing _______. Please contact me at the address above if you have updates or questions.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

OTHER TIPS:

1.	Keep it short! Elected officials and their staff are more likely to read your letter if it’s one page instead of two or three or six.

2.	Proofread. If your letter is missing words or full of spelling mistakes, you will appear to be less credible.

3.	Be respectful. It’s much easier to justify disregarding a letter that includes derogatory comments or uses profanity.

4.	If you receive a response, consider writing a thank-you note. Like all of us, elected officials appreciate it when their work is acknowledged. And, if you make them feel good about how they handled a particular issue, there’s a chance they might pay more attention to that issue in the future.