How to Write a Letter to Your United States Senator

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Each state has two senators. Your senators vote on bills and approve or reject the President’s cabinet and Supreme Court nominees. To write your Senator, you should find their address and spend some time thinking about what you want to say. Remember to keep your letter as brief as possible and to check grammar and spelling. Although you might intend to send your letter through the mail, it may take a month for it to reach its destination that way. Instead, consider sending it by fax or through the "comments" webform on the senator's website.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Planning Your Letter

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are many reasons why you might contact your Senator. However, most people write because they want to share their opinion on something. For example, many constituents write their representatives for the following reasons:
    • You want them to vote yes or no on a bill under consideration in the Senate.
    • You want them to introduce a bill or hold hearings on a topic.
    • You want them to approve or vote against the President’s appointees to the Supreme Court or cabinet.
  2. You will appear credible if you can speak confidently and accurately about an issue. If possible, you should find facts or statistics that you can cite in the letter. Remember to write down your sources, because you will want to list them in the letter. [1] You should also know the name and number of the bill you are writing about.
    • A good place to start with research is to do a basic Internet search. Spend an hour or so getting a general feel for the issue.
    • If you need help, you can visit your local library and ask a librarian.
    • Not all sources are the same. You want to use unbiased sources, such as government reports. University websites are another good source of credible information.
    Advertisement
  3. Visit this website: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm . You should be able to find your Senator's name there. Click on their name to get their contact information. You'll be taken to their website, which should contain this information.
    • If you don't know their name, look up your state first, then select the name that shows up.
    4. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Drafting Your Letter

PDF download Download Article
  1. It will look more professional. Write the letter as you normally would, but don't indent the new paragraphs. Instead, add a blank line between each paragraph. [2] Set the font to 12 point size.
    • Set the font to something readable, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
  2. You should put the date in the upper left-hand corner. Write out the month, e.g., “January 12, 2017.” [3]
  3. Move down 2 lines and insert your Senator’s name and address. You should spell out your Senator’s full name in the address block. For example, “ Honorable Susan Collins .” [4]
    • You can add a bolded title after the address. It should be centered between the left-and right-hand margins. For example, you could write “Re: Neil Gorsuch Nomination to the Supreme Court.”
  4. Move down two more lines and insert your salutation: “Dear Senator” is standard. [5] You could also write “Dear Senator Collins.” Put a colon after the name.
  5. In the first paragraph, explicitly state why you are writing to your Senator. You can also introduce yourself, especially if your job is related to why you are writing. [6]
    • For example, you can write: “I am writing to urge you to vote against Judge Neil Gorsuch, who is President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. I do not believe he respects the role our judiciary plays in protecting civil liberties.”
    • Alternately, you could write, “I am a lawyer in southern Maine. I am writing to encourage you to support Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. As a practicing attorney, I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Gorsuch at an ABA conference a couple years ago and was immediately impressed with his integrity and intelligence.”
  6. Usually, you will write a letter to ask your Senator to vote a certain way. In the second paragraph, explain why. Remember to maintain a professional tone and avoid profanity or displays of anger. [7] Mention specifics, if possible.
    • For example, you could write: “I believe Judge Gorsuch is the wrong choice for the Supreme Court. The more I read about him, the more worried I am that he will overturn long-standing precedents in the Supreme Court.”
    • Avoid relying on arguments made in a form letter. For example, if you belong to a group that sends out a letter telling you what to say, make your own argument instead.
    • You can use more than one paragraph to make your argument, if necessary. However, try to keep your letter to one page.
  7. Another good idea is to explain how the issue will touch you personally. [8] For example, if the Senate is considering a farm bill, you can explain how not passing the bill will affect your family farm.
    • You don’t need a sob story. Instead, you need a few personal details that let your Senator know how their vote will have real-world consequences.
  8. In the final paragraph, you want to thank them for reading your letter and considering your viewpoint. Also reiterate that the issue is important to you. Sample language might read: [9]
    • “Thank you for hearing my point of view on the Gorsuch nomination. The Supreme Court is a critical institution, and I hope you will vote against his nomination to maintain the independence of the judicial branch.”
  9. You should type “Sincerely,” and then leave four lines of blank space. You will put your name, address, phone number, and email address in a block. [10]
    • Remember to sign in the blank space using a dark ink pen.
    10. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Editing and Sending Your Letter

PDF download Download Article
  1. Put your letter aside for a day or so and look at it with fresh eyes. Does your letter make sense? Have you said something in an unclear manner? If so, tinker with your sentences and paragraphs so that you are clearer. [11]
    • Also revise to make the letter as brief as possible. People are very busy. You might be able to combine sentences or paragraphs. Cut any unnecessary words.
  2. Typos, missing words, and other errors will reduce your credibility. Read over the letter to find these errors before sending. You can edit your letter by doing the following: [12]
    • Ask another person to read the letter to find mistakes.
    • Read the letter backward. Start with the last sentence. Read it, then move to the sentence before it. This way, you’ll focus carefully on each sentence and find any errors.
    • Read the letter out loud. Our eyes tend to correct errors when we read silently to ourselves. By reading out loud, you might stumble over an error.
  3. Due to the volume of letters the U.S. Senate receives and heightened security concerns, it takes approximately 1 month for a letter to reach a senator’s office via U.S. Mail. [13] If it’s not necessary for your letter to be received as soon as possible (e.g., because it’s about a treaty renegotiation that won’t happen for several months), go ahead and send it by standard mail.
    • If you wish, you can instead send it by certified mail with return receipt requested. The receipt will serve as proof that it was delivered.
    • If you wanted to send a letter to one or both senators from Arizona, you’d use the following addresses: Senator Krysten Sinema, 317 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; Senator Mark Kelly, 516 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510.
  4. 4
    Fax your letter for a faster delivery. A fax will reach your senator’s office much more quickly than a mailed letter, and it may also feel more substantial than sending comments via your senator’s website. Find the fax number on your senator’s contact page, and be sure to include a cover sheet .
    • For instance, the fax numbers for Arizona’s senators are (202) 224-4521 for Sen. Krysten Sinema, and (202) 224-2235 for Sen. Mark Kelly.
  5. 5
    Submit comments via webform instead of standard email. Senators typically do not provide email addresses for constituent comments. Instead, their websites provide webforms for you to fill in with your contact information, topic (often from a drop-down list), and comments. If you have already drafted a letter, copy the body of it and paste it into the “comments” block on the webform.
  6. Often, Senators won’t respond to letters. However, when they do, they send standardized responses. Don’t be offended.
    • Check if your Senator voted how you wanted. If they did, thank them by sending a quick comment via their webpage. Senators usually receive lots of negative mail, so they'll appreciate the positivity.
    7. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I address the envelope to a senator? Should it read "The Honorable Senator Joe Blowhard" or just "Senator Joe Blowhard"?
    Community Answer
    Use "The Honorable Senator Joseph Blowhard."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 21
  • Question
    What if you're not confident your Senator will listen (e.g. it's a left-wing talking point when both Senators are right-wingers or vice-versa)?
    R2_d2000
    Top Answerer
    It's possible that they may ignore it, but then again, it costs essentially nothing to write them a letter. Letting your senator know what you think gives them an idea of what their constituents want, and who knows, maybe a lot of other people with your views also wrote a similar letter. Your letter combined with all of these may make them take a more moderate stance on the particular issue that you're writing to them about.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
  • Question
    What if you don't have a phone number you want to share?
    R2_d2000
    Top Answerer
    Instead of contacting them online, you can mail a letter through the US Postal Service and not include your phone number in it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 9
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Address a Letter to a Government Official
      How to
      Write a Letter
      What's the Difference between a Governor and a Senator?
      How to
      Analyze Political Cartoons
      How to
      Join The Republican Party
      How to
      Tell if a Person Is Republican or Democrat
      How to
      Be a Communist
      How to
      Explain Democrat vs Republican to a Child
      How to
      Be an Anarchist
      How to
      Get Involved in Local Politics
      How to
      Write a Campaign Speech
      How to
      Tell Whether You're Right Wing or Left Wing
      How to
      Avoid Politics With Stubborn Relatives
      How to
      Understand Politics
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2017-01/Write%20a%20letter%20to%20a%20US%20Senator%20-%20Andy%20Blair.pdf
      2. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/basic_business_letters/sample_letters.html
      3. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/basic_business_letters/sample_letters.html
      4. ↑ https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2017-01/Write%20a%20letter%20to%20a%20US%20Senator%20-%20Andy%20Blair.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2017-01/Write%20a%20letter%20to%20a%20US%20Senator%20-%20Andy%20Blair.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/advocacy/tips-writing-letter-member-congress.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.asbmb.org/advocacy/toolkit/write-a-letter-to-your-legislator
      8. ↑ https://www.asbmb.org/advocacy/toolkit/write-a-letter-to-your-legislator
      9. ↑ https://www.asbmb.org/advocacy/toolkit/write-a-letter-to-your-legislator
      1. ↑ https://www.asbmb.org/advocacy/toolkit/write-a-letter-to-your-legislator
      2. ↑ https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2017-01/Write%20a%20letter%20to%20a%20US%20Senator%20-%20Andy%20Blair.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2017-01/Write%20a%20letter%20to%20a%20US%20Senator%20-%20Andy%20Blair.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.casey.senate.gov/contact/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To write a letter to your United States Senator, use block-style paragraphing for a professional look and be sure to use a clear font like Times New Roman or Arial set to a 12-point font size. Next, type a salutation like "Dear Senator Collins" and use the first paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're writing. In the second paragraph, explain why the topic is important to you and how it affects you personally. Lastly, thank the Senator for their time, sign off with "Sincerely," and leave blank space so you can sign your name in ink. For tips on supporting your opinions and maintaining a professional tone, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 233,792 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Suzanne Spencer

        Jan 18, 2017

        "I want to write a letter to a senator of a party I did not support who, nevertheless, has integrity. Article helps ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement