email YOUR STATE REPS
One way you can advocate for Vote16MO is by emailing to your state representatives. Below, we outline the steps necessary to email your state representative and senator in support of the Vote16MO Campaign
FOLLOW THE STEPS OUTLINED ON THIS PAGE. USE THIS CLICKABLE MENU BELOW TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE:
STEP 1: WRITE THE EMAIL OR USE OUR TEMPLATE!
You can choose to either write an email on your own or use the template provided by Vote16MO.
STEP 1 (A): FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
1) Click here to find your representatives.
2) Once you enter your address on the website linked above, a list of your representatives will pop up.
You'll want to pay attention to where it says "Senatorial district" and "House District"
(note: this is NOT "US House district")
3) Once you've located your representatives, their names should be underlined in blue to signify a clickable link. You should click on your representative's or senator's name.
4) Once you've clicked on their name, you should write down their FIRST NAME, LAST NAME, and the FIRST AND LAST NAME OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AID which can be found on their page. If you plan on calling your legislator, write down their PHONE NUMBER.
5) Your representative's emails are structured as the following:
HOUSE REP: firstname.lastname@house.mo.gov
SENATOR: firstname.lastname@senate.mo.gov
You will simply plug in your representatives name in the placeholders.
If you would like to WRITE YOUR OWN email, click here to skip to Step 1 (C).
STEP 1 (B): USE OUR TEMPLATE
To make it easier on you, we've prepared a template that you can use easily. Simply follow the instructions below.
1) Once you click on the "open template" button below, you'll click "USE TEMPLATE" in the upper right hand corner.
2) Once you've opened the template in Google Docs, you'll fill in all of the necessary information that is in brackets or "[ ]".
For example, at the top, you'll need to enter your representative or senator's email address where it says [firstname.lastname@house.mo.gov] or [firstname.lastname@senate.mo.gov]
Do this for the rest of the information in brackets throughout the email.
3) MAKE SURE advocacy@vote16mo.org is also listed in the "cc" section as a recipient of the email.
4) Once you’re ready to send this email and all of the bracketed information is complete, press blue Gmail logo on the top left side and it will take you to Gmail automatically with all of this information plugged in. If you would like to do this another way, copy and paste the information below into your email draft.
CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW TO OPEN EACH TEMPLATE
STEP 1 (C): WRITE An email ON YOUR OWN
Email is a quick and effective way to communicate with your legislator. Consider looking at our email template for reference. Here are some tips for writing an impactful email to your legislator:
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Use a Clear and Informative Subject Line:
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Your subject line should convey the main topic of your email concisely.
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Address the Legislator Appropriately:
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Begin your email with a respectful salutation using the legislator's title and last name (e.g., "Dear Senator Smith").
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Identify Yourself and Your Constituency:
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State your full name, address, and mention that you are a constituent in their district. This helps establish your credibility.
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Keep It Brief:
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Legislators receive many emails, so keep your message concise and to the point. Aim for a few paragraphs or less.
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State Your Purpose Early:
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Begin your email by clearly stating the reason for writing and the specific action or policy you are advocating for.
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Do Your Research:
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Familiarize yourself with the legislator's stance on the issue and refer to their past actions or statements on the topic, if applicable.
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Provide Supporting Evidence:
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Use facts, statistics, and well-reasoned arguments to support your position. Provide evidence that strengthens your case.
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Be Respectful and Polite:
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Maintain a respectful and polite tone throughout the email, even if you disagree with the legislator.
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Avoid using offensive language or making personal attacks.
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Request a Specific Action:
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Clearly state what you want the legislator to do (in this case, we're asking the legislator to vote to place the Vote16MO initiative on the November 2024 ballot).
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Use Personal Stories and Anecdotes:
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Share personal anecdotes or stories that illustrate the impact of the issue on you, your community, or others.
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Address Local Impact:
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Explain how the issue directly affects your local community or the legislator's constituency.
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Follow Up:
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Include your contact information and invite the legislator to respond to your email. Express your willingness to discuss the issue further.
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After sending your email, work with Vote16MO to follow up with the legislator or their staff. It shows your commitment to the issue.
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Edit and Proofread:
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Ensure your email is free from grammatical errors and is well-organized.
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Use a Professional Email Address:
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Use a clear and professional email address for correspondence with your legislator.
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Use Technology Wisely:
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Be aware of character limits if applicable to your legislator's email platform.
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Attach Supporting Documents:
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If you have data, research, or documents that can support your case, attach them as PDFs or links.
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MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE US IN THE EMAIL!
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Be sure to include advocacy@vote16mo.org as a recipient of the email.
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TALKING POINTS:
These are simply our suggested talking points to help you guide your email. You can choose between which ones you'd like to advocate for.
1) We are not asking the legislators to support Vote16MO, although that would be amazing. We are simply asking the legislators to vote to place the Vote16MO initiative on the November 2024 ballot so that their own constituents, who are parents, business owners, school board members, teachers, and municipal leaders, would be able to decide the outcome of this initiative. If the legislator doesn't support Vote16MO, they would vote to place the initiative on the ballot and then vote against it when it is put to a vote!
2) We are not lowering the voting age in ALL elections, only nonpartisan local and school board elections. These elections are much smaller and more intimate. This will provide a transition process, allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in smaller elections which will give them practical experience in voting before joining the entire electoral process at all levels.
3) Through Vote16MO, we are addressing the issue of taxation without representation in the youngest demographics. 16- and 17-year-old workers are paying millions in taxes combined year year, but have no access to elected representatives. This issue should supersede partisan gridlock, as this is a principle our country was founded on.
4) We are currently seeing pitiful levels of voter engagement and turnout in local and school board elections in Missouri. Allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote will encourage civic engagement and active participation in the political process from a younger age. This can foster a lifelong habit of voting and civic responsibility.
5) Educators and institutions from across the state are confirming the fact that lowering the voting age in local elections will strengthen civics education. By including younger voices in elections, we can encourage better civic education in our schools and ensure that young people have a say in decisions that will directly impact their lives.
6) Our country is built on the principle of representation. Lowering the voting age will help ensure that the concerns and perspectives of young citizens are included in the decision-making process.
7) Vote16MO will positively impact urban and rural communities. Communities across the state will see positive changes economically, developmentally, educationally, and civically, and beyond.
STEP 3: SEND YOUR email
Once your email is perfected, and all recipients are included in the email, including advocacy@vote16mo.org, it's time to press send!