How to Lobby

Lobbying simply means: encouraging the adoption, defeat or modification of law or policies at the local, national, or even international level. Lobbying involves giving views and information to decision-makers in order to influence them toward the action you want, which means contacting officials who make the laws and policies, communicating desires and opinions, challenging the arguments of opponents, and demonstrating wide support for an issue. Lobbying your elected representative is one of the most effective ways to influence legislative action.

Lobbying is really no more than expressing why you are concerned about an issue and what you would like your legislator to do – support or oppose a certain bill.  A few effective means of lobbying include writing or calling and e-mailing your Senator. The Center for People in Need has provided a list of Senators under the Representative Contacts heading and the means of contacting them through the mail, over the phone, or via e-mail. We also have sample letters available to guide you through writing a letter about an issue.  Lobbying your legislator can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Legislators do care what voters think! Remember, legislative change cannot be accomplished by one group, one person. Only through collaboration and coordination can we succeed.