In this series, we provide some tips on how you as a voter can successfully lobby your elected officials.

Lobbying takes persistence. When the Legislature is in session, lawmakers are bombarded with dozens of pieces of legislation, countless meetings, and hours of phone messages. It’s understandable for a lawmaker to forget about a bill or an issue shortly after you’ve spoken with him or her. That’s why persistence is important. If you don’t reach a lawmaker right away, keep trying; after you have reached them, be sure to follow up with more communication on the issue (for example: “Rep. Smith, Thank you for meeting with me to discuss HB1234. I really hope you will vote for it when the time comes, because…”). Persistent attempts to communicate with lawmakers pay off over time.