How to Address a Letter to the State Representative

State elected officials are charged with the responsibility of representing the wishes of their people.

Letter writing campaigns are a time-honored vehicle through which the common citizen lets his voice be heard. Before the age of the Internet, ascertaining your elected official's name and address may have been a difficult task; however, in our modern age of the World Wide Web at your fingertips, discovering where and to whom to send your political and social concerns is just a click away.

Instructions

1. Go to The Library of Congress website. (See References below)

2. Click on the state in which you reside.

3. Read through the resulting webpage until you find the link directing you to your State Legislators' contact information. Each state's webpage is different, so it may take awhile to find the information.

4. Choose how you want to contact your State Representative. Most websites include phone, email, and mailing address information.

5. Format your letter properly by beginning with your return address, then the date, then the name, title, and address of the recipient. Finally, open your letter with the greeting: "Dear Mr. Smith:" (note the colon at the end of the greeting). Leave one full blank line between each element of the letter, including the paragraphs.

6. Address the envelope. The first line of the address should be placed one-third down from the top of the envelope, horizontally starting in the center. The first line is the legislator's name, the second line is his position, the third line is the building in which he resides (example: Colorado State Capitol Building), the fourth line is the street address and the fifth line contains the city, state and zip code. In the top left corner, include your return address and place postage in the top right corner.

Tips & Warnings

• When writing your letter, use a respectful and informative tone.

• Never make threats to a state or government official. These threats will be taken seriously and there could be dire consequences.

References

• The Library of Congress: State Legislature Websites