Nina Perez, Author at Alabama Election Protection Network

Contacting Your Elected Officials 101

Apart from voting, contacting your elected officials is one of the most important tasks you can perform as a citizen. It is the best way to share your opinions and helps influence changes within your local community. Let’s take a look at the simplest ways to contact your elected officials!

1. In-person meetings

If you have the opportunity, speak to your elected officials in person. You will find that you can have more engaging conversations and have a greater chance of having your voice heard. It’s important to note that members of Congress are often traveling, but when they are in town, you can call the district office to arrange an appointment to meet with them. There are also staff members within their offices whose job is to form relationships with individuals such as yourself. You will create a much longer-lasting impression during an in-person meeting.

2. By Letter

We understand that not everyone can meet in person, and if that’s the case, sending a letter is the most impactful way to reach them. The offices for Congress members are set up to receive and log communication they receive by mail. When writing a letter, you will need to ensure that you concisely share your concerns or opinions, keeping it to one page. Any multiple-page letters are unlikely to be read, so stick to your main points and avoid being repetitive or stating anything unnecessary. And Keep in mind, you should ensure you are polite throughout your contact to increase the likelihood of receiving a response.

3. By Email

Email has largely replaced traditional mail, and it’s an excellent tool for contacting a member of Congress. If time is sensitive for your concern, email is one of the best ways to get a quick response, as they are usually processed quicker than mail. When time is critical, make sure you make that very clear at the start of your email to incite quicker action. Once again, being courteous in your communications is the best way to get a response.

4. Through Social Media

Social media is a tool used by organizations of all types today, including the government and elected officials! If you are looking to share your view and receive a quick response, it’s an additional option. Twitter and Facebook are the two most popular platforms for legislators, and they often use them to share information with their constituents. The great thing about social media is that you can upload images to support your case further and then tag your member of Congress in these images. Of course, always act with respect and professionalism when using this form of contact to start a civil dialogue with your elected officials.

Whichever way you choose to contact your elected officials, we encourage you always to take the time to compose your message and share your thoughts. Don’t ever act antagonistic, and instead, create a compelling and thought-provoking message that’s more likely to receive the response you desire. Get started today by utilizing our ‘Our Districts, Our Alabama’ template letter to contact your representatives about the 2021 redistricting process here!

How Elected Officials Use Gerrymandering to Dismantle Fair Representation

The foundation of fair representation lies in an American process known as redistricting. Redistricting is how politicians draw district lines for representation at the federal, state, and local levels. The line drawing process is undertaken every ten years, and in theory, allows communities and residents to vote for representatives that understand and care about the issues that impact them. These issues include access to healthcare and education, public safety, or public welfare – for example, how we invest in education, public parks, libraries, or roads.

As early as 1812, government officials have used gerrymandering in the redistricting process to tilt political power in favor of a particular politician or political party. It has also been used to diminish the voting power of Black, Brown, and other minority communities. Gerrymandering is a dangerous byproduct of the necessary redistricting process. Currently, state legislatures or redistricting commissions are responsible for the process by which district lines are drawn. The way that district lines are drawn effectively determines our representation within every branch and level of the government.

In Alabama, the state legislature appoints a Reapportionment Committee to conduct the redistricting process. The Reapportionment Committee establishes the state’s redistricting guidelines that are approved by the state legislature. These guidelines must adhere to the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Alabama state constitution. However, these laws are sufficiently broad and subject to interpretation, clearing an easy path for manipulation by the party in power.

The two most commonly used techniques politicians use to consolidate their power over the communities they are supposed to represent are “packing” and “cracking.” Packing places all or a majority of ‘like-minded voters’ into a single district, consolidating their voting power to limit its reach. Cracking splits a specific voting block among multiple districts to ensure they are a minority in all of them, diluting their voting power.

The charts below show cracking (left under gerrymandering) and packing (right under gerrymandering) for two hypothetical voting blocs.

By doing this, elected officials sway representation to the detriment of targeted communities. Elected officials can target any community, but most commonly, they are composed of people who historically vote for one political party or Black, Brown, or other minority communities. In the South, in particular, gerrymandering has seen widespread use in undermining the ability of minority communities to receive fair representation.

You can advocate for your community and get involved in the line-drawing process by working with Alabama Election Protection Network here.