Contact Your Lawmaker
Lawmakers listen to constituents who reach out them to directly. Here's how you can reach your lawmakers in ways they will listen.
CALL YOUR LAWMAKER
Calling your lawmaker might seem intimidating, but it's actually very easy! Here's everything you need to call your representatives in Montgomery.
HOW TO CALL:
STEP 1: Find your legislator.
- Find your legislator here
- Type in your address
- Scroll to the bottom of the list for your state-level representatives
STEP 2: Call your legislator. You can find their number here:
STEP 3: Tell your legislator what you want.
All you need to say is who you are, where you are from, and how you want them to vote. Remember to include the following things in your message:
- State your name, district, and who you are calling.
- Hello! My name is Janelle Smith. I’m a resident from Senate District 4 and I’m calling to leave a message for Sen. Gudger.
- State why you are calling. Include the bill number and what action you’d like your lawmaker to take.
- I’m calling to ask Sen. Gudger to VOTE NO on SB63.
- Extra Credit– tell them why.
- This anti-immigrant bill unfairly targets immigrant communities, increase the risk of racial profiling, is excessively punitive, and needlessly cruel.
Not so scary right? Make the call today– you got this.
HOW TO CALL:
STEP 1: Find your legislator.
- Find your legislator here
- Type in your address
- Scroll to the bottom of the list for your state-level representatives
STEP 2: Call your legislator. You can find their number here:
STEP 3: Tell your legislator what you want.
All you need to say is who you are, where you are from, and how you want them to vote. Remember to include the following things in your message:
- State your name, district, and who you are calling.
- Hello! My name is Janelle Smith. I’m a resident from Senate District 4 and I’m calling to leave a message for Sen. Gudger.
- State why you are calling. Include the bill number and what action you’d like your lawmaker to take.
- I’m calling to ask Sen. Gudger to VOTE NO on SB63.
- Extra Credit– tell them why.
- This anti-immigrant bill unfairly targets immigrant communities, increase the risk of racial profiling, is excessively punitive, and needlessly cruel.
Not so scary right? Make the call today– you got this.
EMAIL YOUR LAWMAKER
A well-written, email is an invaluable way to make your voice heard.
Here are some tips for writing to your legislators:
- Make it short and sweet: If your legislator is receiving a ton of mail about certain hot-button issues, you’ll want to make your point quickly.
- Tell a story: The more personal your letter is, the more compelling it will be to your legislator. Tell your legislator how bills will affect you, your family, or your friends.
- Problem, solution, action: In the letter be sure to include the problem, the solution, and the action you want taken (i.e. “Vote no on HB 123!”).
In your email, state who you are and what you want up front.
- In the first sentence tell your elected official that you are a constituent. Identify your name and address. You should also clearly identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letters pertains to a specific piece of legislation, it helps to identify it by its bill number (HB ___ or SB ____) or simply state the issue in general terms.
- Example: Dear Senator, My name is Jane Smith and I live in your district at 111 Anyplace Lane in Alabama. I am writing to you about SB 5 to make our employment practices more fair. I urge you to support these values and vote yes on this important bill.
Need something even easier? Find pre-written emails and more ways to take action at the link below.
Here are some tips for writing to your legislators:
- Make it short and sweet: If your legislator is receiving a ton of mail about certain hot-button issues, you’ll want to make your point quickly.
- Tell a story: The more personal your letter is, the more compelling it will be to your legislator. Tell your legislator how bills will affect you, your family, or your friends.
- Problem, solution, action: In the letter be sure to include the problem, the solution, and the action you want taken (i.e. “Vote no on HB 123!”).
In your email, state who you are and what you want up front.
- In the first sentence tell your elected official that you are a constituent. Identify your name and address. You should also clearly identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letters pertains to a specific piece of legislation, it helps to identify it by its bill number (HB ___ or SB ____) or simply state the issue in general terms.
- Example: Dear Senator, My name is Jane Smith and I live in your district at 111 Anyplace Lane in Alabama. I am writing to you about SB 5 to make our employment practices more fair. I urge you to support these values and vote yes on this important bill.
Need something even easier? Find pre-written emails and more ways to take action at the link below.
MEET YOUR LAWMAKER
Meeting your legislators in person is an effective way to talk to them about what matters to you.
Contact Information
- Statehouse Address: 11 S Union Street, Montgomery, AL 36130
- Mailing Address for any legislator: [Legislator's Name], Alabama State House, Montgomery, AL 36130
- House of Representatives Directory
- Senate Directory
Tips for meeting with your legislator:
- Schedule your meeting: Email, mail, or call your legislator to request a meeting. When you do this, be sure to tell them what you want to talk about. If you’re their constituent, tell them. If you’re bringing another constituent or someone else to the meeting, let them know. Don’t ambush them with unexpected guests.
- Be flexible and patient: Give your legislator time to respond to your request for a meeting. Understand the best time to build your relationship with a legislator is before or after session – legislators are very busy January through March, so keep that in mind!
- Once you have a meeting scheduled, it’s time to educate yourself. Is the legislator a co-sponsor of a measure you support? Have they supported issues important to you in the past? Do you have connections in common with the legislator? Can you personalize your relationship? (Do your kids go to school together, for example?)
- Decide on your goals and what you hope to get out of this meeting. Introducing yourself? Getting the legislator to understand your point of view on a certain topic? Getting their support or opposition to a particular bill?
- Follow up: After the meeting, don’t forget to send a thank you note to leave a lasting impression and strengthen the relationship you’ve established.
Additional Tips for In-Person Meetings
- Dress professionally.
- Be prompt and patient.
- Keep it short and focused! You may have as little as 10 minutes if you meet with your legislator.
- Make the most of that brief time by sticking to your topic and talking points.
- Bring up any personal, professional or political connections that you may have to the elected official.
- Provide personal and local examples of the impact of the legislation. This is the most important thing you can do in a lobby visit.
- Set deadlines for a response. Ask when you should check back in to find out what your elected official intends to do about your request.
Contact Information
- Statehouse Address: 11 S Union Street, Montgomery, AL 36130
- Mailing Address for any legislator: [Legislator's Name], Alabama State House, Montgomery, AL 36130
- House of Representatives Directory
- Senate Directory
Tips for meeting with your legislator:
- Schedule your meeting: Email, mail, or call your legislator to request a meeting. When you do this, be sure to tell them what you want to talk about. If you’re their constituent, tell them. If you’re bringing another constituent or someone else to the meeting, let them know. Don’t ambush them with unexpected guests.
- Be flexible and patient: Give your legislator time to respond to your request for a meeting. Understand the best time to build your relationship with a legislator is before or after session – legislators are very busy January through March, so keep that in mind!
- Once you have a meeting scheduled, it’s time to educate yourself. Is the legislator a co-sponsor of a measure you support? Have they supported issues important to you in the past? Do you have connections in common with the legislator? Can you personalize your relationship? (Do your kids go to school together, for example?)
- Decide on your goals and what you hope to get out of this meeting. Introducing yourself? Getting the legislator to understand your point of view on a certain topic? Getting their support or opposition to a particular bill?
- Follow up: After the meeting, don’t forget to send a thank you note to leave a lasting impression and strengthen the relationship you’ve established.
Additional Tips for In-Person Meetings
- Dress professionally.
- Be prompt and patient.
- Keep it short and focused! You may have as little as 10 minutes if you meet with your legislator.
- Make the most of that brief time by sticking to your topic and talking points.
- Bring up any personal, professional or political connections that you may have to the elected official.
- Provide personal and local examples of the impact of the legislation. This is the most important thing you can do in a lobby visit.
- Set deadlines for a response. Ask when you should check back in to find out what your elected official intends to do about your request.
VIEW OUR ACTION ALERTS
It only takes a couple of clicks to stand up for our neighbors!
Freedom can't protect itself– visit this page for petitions, emails, and demands to our lawmakers.
Freedom can't protect itself– visit this page for petitions, emails, and demands to our lawmakers.
WERK THE LEGE TOOLKIT
A toolkit to guide your advocacy efforts.
Our Werk the Lege toolkit shows you how to effectively talk with your legislators about issues that are important to you. If you’re looking for additional ways to get involved with our work defending freedom, sign up to receive email updates and action alerts! We’ll be in touch when the time comes with information on how you can take action to protect our rights and liberties in Alabama.
Our Werk the Lege toolkit shows you how to effectively talk with your legislators about issues that are important to you. If you’re looking for additional ways to get involved with our work defending freedom, sign up to receive email updates and action alerts! We’ll be in touch when the time comes with information on how you can take action to protect our rights and liberties in Alabama.
