One of the most important political moves you can make is to vote. Politicians are elected as representatives and generally work to promote the beliefs of their constituents — the people they represent and the people who elected them. Before going to the polling precinct, make sure you have done your homework. To get the most from your vote, know the issues and where the candidates stand.

If you want to bring attention to a local issue or if you need a question answered, you can contact your local political leaders and regulators. Contact information should be in the phone book or available on the municipality's or agency's Web site.

Lawmakers

At times, a particular issue is decided by individual states, not by the federal government. In that case, state lawmakers have more influence. If you aren't sure who your representatives or senators are, look up your state government's Web site. It will have information regarding your representatives and how to contact them. The senators and representatives are elected by district. They may have a local office in their district or an office in the state's capital. Depending on the schedule and availability of the legislature, you may receive a call back from an aide rather than the lawmaker you originally contacted.

The Web site www.speakout.com has a wealth of information on all aspects of the legislative process and the best ways to communicate with legislators. The site also contains additional information on political activism.

If the issue is on a federal level, you can contact your U. S. senator or representative. Each state has two senators and is divided by population into districts; each district has one representative. Rather than dealing directly with your senator or representative, you will most likely be in contact with one of their assistants. Build a rapport with this person because he or she will likely have a good understanding of the issues and will probably have more time to look into an issue.

Any communication with local, state, or federal politicians should be professional and respectful. Before contacting them, make sure you thoroughly understand the issue. Rumors and misinformation spread quickly. If you are interested in pending legislation, try to contact your legislator before the session begins and the bill is taken to committee.

It's good to remember that written or e-mailed communication is likely to be considered public record, and this includes e-mail addresses. If you contact your congressional leaders, you should consider any potential audience that may read your correspondence — which could include friends, family, and even employers. Regardless of the potential public audience, you'll get further with legislators when you treat them with respect.

Here is a list of tips for contacting a member of the legislature:

Rather than acting on behalf of a legislative issue that is already being processed, you can also request a public hearing on a local issue. For example, you might request a hearing to inform the public of the potential impacts a new development could have on nearby wetlands. Your letter would include a summary of the project and details about how it will impact the area. In this example, you would describe the development project and specifically how it would impact the wetlands (i.e., increased runoff from paved areas that could cause erosion and reduce the quality of water entering the wetlands). Through the Freedom of Information Act, you can obtain specific information on the project from the regulatory agency responsible for its permitting.

In the wetlands example, the letter would also provide a description of the wetlands, including the size and species present, and how it contributes to the community. Applicable laws and regulations should be cited that might include environmental permitting and public notification and involvement.

If you are requesting a public hearing, you should be prepared to make a presentation. Your facts should be in order and organized. Practice your presentation well ahead of time; it may just be the beginning of a political career.

Regulators

Letters can also be written to regulators that are responsible for permitting and monitoring activities. This could range from a letter to the FDA regarding animal testing or to the EPA regarding a nearby superfund site. As with other letters, the tone should be respectful, and while the issue may be emotional, try to present facts. For example, if you are writing a letter to the FDA, you could request that animal testing no longer be used to determine cosmetic ingredient safety and that other means be used. While the plight of animals used in laboratory testing can be emotional, be sure to emphasize the accuracy and availability of alternative measures. You should also include any applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the issue. In this example, you could indicate that while the law may require proof of product safety, it does not specifically require that data be provided through animal testing. You could request regulators to accept the use of alternate tests or data. Even though many of the issues concerning the environment are emotional, it's important to understand the laws and regulations.