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Contact your

 legislators

Find Your Legislator

1. Find Your Legislator

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Find your legislator's contact info using Common Cause's Find Your Representative Tool.

Decide on a way to contact them: by phone, mail, email, or a visit to their office.  See our tips for talking with elected officials below.

 

You can also work with your group to engage candidates and/or elected representatives on Facebook and Twitter.  To join others like you online, use #FairMapsTexas when posting on Twitter and Facebook.  

Here are some questions and talking points prepared by our members.  

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2. Review Our Talking Points

Talking Points

Weekly Call to Action 

Example Script and Researched Messaging

2019 Legislative Priorities

3. Tips for Getting Your Message Across

Effective Messaging: 

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  1. Lead with values.

  2. Explain why it matters.

  3. Highlight the goal we are trying to achieve. 

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Before going to the office:

Learn your audience -- assess if your legislator is an ally, potential supporter, generally opposed, or strongly opposed to redistricting reform (see below).

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  • When you walk into a legislator’s office, ask to speak to the staff member who works on redistricting reform.

  • Introduce yourself as a member of Fair Maps Texas. Be sure to give them your contact info: name, address and/or just your zip code.

  • Share values and information on why redistricting reform is important.

  • Emphasize support from the community for redistricting reform.  

  • Ask questions prepared by the LWV (above) in order to find opportunities to work on common ground.

  • Share a story about how redistricting has negatively affected you. 

  • Thank them for their time and leave the groups’ contact info with them in case they have any follow up questions.

  • After your appointment, sign the guestbook. 

 

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Messaging Tips

4. Identify Your Audience

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Know Your Audience

GENERALLY OPPOSED

Spoken against reform or

possibly afraid to vote

against the party position

  • Provide information about the negative outcomes of uncompetitive districts and the impacts of this on the business community 

  • Speak of common values: fairness, democracy, freedom

  •  Ask them to keep an open door for future conversations

  • Thank them for taking the time to speak with you

STRONGLY OPPOSED

Actively impeding

progress for redistricting

reform bills

  • Provide information about the negative outcomes of uncompetitive districts and the impacts of this on the business community 

  •  Remind them that redistricting reform is considered good  government legislation that is designed to insulate parties from a swing in the electorate

  • Thank them for taking the time to speak with you

ALLY

Consistent support of

redistricting reform

  • Thank them for their continued support

  • Ask them what we can do to support their work on redistricting reform

  • Thank them for taking the time to speak with you

  • If the member is present, ask them to take a group picture to share on social media #FAIRMAPSTEXAS

POTENTIAL SUPPORTER

Occasional support for

redistricting reform or

hasn’t actively spoken

against it

  • Provide information about the impact of uncompetitive districts on our electorate and the business community

  •  Ask them what issues related to redistricting reform they are interested in, and what they would like to receive more information about

  • Ask them to keep an open door for future conversations

  • Thank them for taking the time to speak with you

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