Despite technological advances, letters and personal meetings remain the most effective means of communicating with elected officials. There are circumstances, however, when it's better to send an e-mail. For example, if a committee is scheduled to take action on a piece of legislation tomorrow and your legislator is on that committee, then an e-mail or phone call may be the only way to get your message through in time.

Also, if you are pressed for time, an e-mail is better than no communication at all. Once you develop a relationship with a legislator's office, you may find that staffers may prefer to communicate with you by e-mail when they are looking for input on health issues or scheduling a meeting.

If you choose to send an e-mail to your elected officials follow the same rules you would if you were writing a regular letter. Include your address and identify yourself as a constituent. To ensure that your e-mail is read, keep your message brief and to the point.