FAQs about Advocacy

Does it do any good for me to contact a legislator more than once on the same issue?

Yes, absolutely! Particularly during the state legislative session, repeated contact is necessary to move an issue through the different stages of the legislative process and refocus the attention of legislators.

What if I don't read my Alert for a few days. How do I know if the issue is still current?

It depends on the issue and the call to action. In most cases, you will have at least a week to respond. Of course, the sooner you take action, the better. Sometimes, calls to action will expire, however. In that case we will tell you in the alert itself.

Is it really effective to just copy and paste your message and say it's from me?

Yes. Legislators (or their staff) count the number of messages they receive from constituents on issues. Most legislators prefer short concise messages from constituents rather than long, detailed ones. Personal information (always put your address on email) or a personal perspective is always a good idea, so we also encourage you to add your own words to our suggested messages.

Do legislators discount or disregard you when they get the exact same message from a lot of people?

No. As matter of fact, the more messages they get from their constituents, the more likely they are to respond with action. Legislators say it takes about 12-15 contacts on an issue for them to realize that it is something they need to give more attention.

Is it OK to act on an alert just once a month or so?

Certainly. Any action you take is a powerful tool for change – even one contact a session. We recognize that people have busy schedules. If you don't respond to all the alerts, it's OK.

Should I send you a copy of the message I send to my legislators?

No, it is not necessary to copy us. However, we would like to see responses you get from your legislators. These responses tell us what legislators are thinking, which is very useful to our advocacy efforts.

Does it do any good to contact legislators who don't represent my district?

In some cases, it is helpful to contact legislators from other districts. For example, chairs of committees or legislative leaders can often be educated or persuaded by a high volume of contacts. Most of the time, however, we emphasize contact with your own legislators.

How can I get more information about Jewish Federation's policy issues?

Send us an email at GovernmentAffairs [at] JewishInSeattle [dot] org.