subject: Top 5 Reasons To Write Your Senator [print this page] There are many reasons to write to your representatives. Political representatives are there to represent your opinion and to hear what the opinions are of the people they represent.
Influencing a Vote
One of the most common reasons why people write to their political representatives is to influence the way a vote is cast, especially if they feel really strongly about a certain topic in discussion. Sensitive votes or topics that are considered close tend to create more feedback from the general population than votes that are considered won by any of the parties involved. When you want to get your voice heard, contact your senator and tell him or her exactly what you think about a particular situation.
Simple Communication
Like most, you may write to your senator simply to communicate with your representatives, especially right after new senators are introduced. Senators do not receive a lot of simple get to know you letters and are actually often unsure of how to proceed and best represent their constituents on certain issues. Simple communication should happen more often than it currently does so that senators know how to vote in a way that will best serve the opinions and needs of their voters. Drop a line in the mail and get to know your senator, so that he or she can get to know you, too.
Sensitive Subjects
One of the biggest reasons that people choose to write their political representatives at any level is when there is a sensitive issue coming up on the political agenda. Many people feel that their representatives do not always choose to follow the will of the people in these sensitive areas unless the people become very vocal about their opinions. Many people consider abortion, healthcare, and gay rights to be sensitive areas that should be written about to their representatives, but other things may be important to you as well.
Requesting Political Change
Some people write to the government simply to express the needor their desire to seesome sort of political change. Representatives can occasionally lose track of whom they are trying to represent and must be reminded of where the people stand. It is the role of the taxpayer to communicate to their political representative when they feel the representative is not following the opinion of his or her constituents.
Offering Feedback after Votes are Cast
Often people correspond with their political representatives to convey approval or disapproval after specific votes are cast, particularly if the vote is on a sensitive issue or one regarding the taxpayers particular way of life. Representatives should be held accountable for their actions and how they vote, whether it is considered right or wrong by their constituents.
Many representatives are often unsure whether they are voting in such a way that the people in their particular state would agree or disagree, and they find themselves faced with people with differing opinions. Because of this, representatives are unable to keep every person they represent content. Most use a general approach, voting the way that the majority would vote, so write your senator to give your own opinion.
