A handwritten, or typed and signed letter, is the most effective means of communication (other than a face to face meeting). It is far more effective than photocopied form letters, postcard campaigns or emails. Some politicians regard handwritten letters more highly than typewritten letters (some find it convenient to claim the senders probably just cut and pasted what someone else said without thinking about the issue themselves).

Tips for Writing Letters

• Include your name and address and identify yourself as a constituent.
• Keep it brief - one page, one issue per letter.
• Use your own words. Even if your writing skills are not the best, a letter written in your own words will carry much more weight.
• Handwrite, or type and sign, your letter. Some regard emails as "second class mail".
• State the topic clearly and start with a clear statement of purpose. For example: "I am writing to ask you to support / oppose ..." followed by the full name of the piece of legislation or proposed law that you are addressing.
• Focus on just a few points that you feel will be persuasive and flesh them out, rather than trying to address numerous points at once.
• Personalize your letter with a story or concrete information about how their action will affect you.
• Personalize your relationship. Let them know if you have ever voted for them, met them, or contributed time or money to their campaign.
• Ask for a response to your letter.
• Be polite but firm. Hostile remarks or offensive language are counterproductive.
• Write thank you letters to politicians who support your position. Thanks are as important as criticism.

Here's a simple letter asking for a moratorium.
Please take a moment right now and send your own personal version of this letter to your state legislators.
Don't forget to date the letter and include your address since legislators generally accept comments only from their own constituents.

(Click here for more sample letters.)

Dear ...

Please support a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas until 120 days after the federal EPA issues its report on the effects of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health.

Your decisions about gas drilling will profoundly impact the well-being and viability of the many communities potentially affected by the Marcellus Shale play. Attractive as the promise of quick cash may be, it cannot justify gambling with our future.

I urge you to act quickly to protect New York's air and drinking water.

------(Please add your own comments here, as desired.)-----

Yours respectfully,

107th District:
Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch
1 Kattelville Rd, Suite 1
Binghamton, NY 13901
(607) 648-6080
crouchc@assembly.state.ny.us

123rd District:
Assemblyman Gary Finch
69 South St
Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 255-3045
finchg@assembly.state.ny.us

126th District:
Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo
1704 State Office Building
44 Hawley St
Binghamton, NY 13901
(607) 723-9047
lupardod@assembly.state.ny.us

If you don't see what you are looking for in the table above, click here to download a pdf file containing more detailed listings for town and county officials, including a complete listing of the relevant information for all 19 Broome County Legislators.

Not sure what district you live in? Click here to launch the Broome County Voting Information System .

After launching the GIS Portal, click on Polling Places & Elected Officials near the top of the left hand column to get to the Voting Information System. Then, you put in your address, and it gives you contact info for all of YOUR personal elected officials.