Authored by Liz Banse, Senior Program Director
Make your voice heard through the public process
Does that new parks proposal from your City Council have you excited about how it can improve the quality of life for all in your town? Does that health care bill making its way through Congress have your organization’s supporters seeing red? Resource Media has tips to help you effectively advocate for your issues through the public process, be it at a public meeting or via email. Make your voice heard by following these six steps to deliver effective public comment or testimony.
Voicing your support or opposition to legislation
Let’s say you are delivering testimony for a bill that will incentivize building affordable housing near public transit centers. You have an opinion and you want to see this legislation pass. You have reviewed the guidance and know that you have up to three minutes to make your case at the upcoming public hearing. Here’s how to structure your public comment for the highest impact:
- Start with “thank you”: Public comment is a formal affair. It can also be a long affair (for you, but more so, for elected officials). Win them over with kindness and appreciation right from the get-go. Address them formally and begin with thanks.
“Members of the ABC City Council, thank you for providing us tonight with the opportunity to testify on XYZ.”
- Personal introduction: What is your name (first and last) and where do you live? Establish that you are a constituent of theirs or that you are someone with expertise who can speak to the locality’s concerns.
“My name is ABC and I live here in XYZ town.” Or, “My name is ABC and I am an XYZ [name your relevant professional expertise].”
- State your position: State clearly—in one sentence—what your position is on the issue at hand, so that the decision-making body is clear what you are advocating for (or against) as they process your supporting points.
“I am testifying tonight in favor of XYZ legislation.”
- Offer supporting points: State why you hold this position on the proposed legislation. Ideally, offer one central reason for why this matters to you or why it matters to your community. This is where you offer your personal or professional perspective. If you have more than one reason you are coming out to testify, limit yourself to no more than three supporting points, so that you do not water down your impactful comments and risk losing your audience in too many details. Use facts and data to back up your storytelling.
- Explain what is at stake through your story: Your story, whether about you, your family, or others in the community, are what will bring this policy’s implications to life. Make clear the positive or negative impact on you or your community with the passage of this legislation by drawing on your experiences. Keep your story local to the geography of the decision-makers.
“I want to make sure my children and my grandchildren can…”
- Highlight your expertise: Elected officials draw upon the stories of their constituents when advocating for or against legislation with their colleagues. They also cite the expertise of those who testify. If you are testifying from a professional rather than a personal perspective, that is just as powerful! Name your industry or professional expertise, and speak from your experiences, be it as a first responder, a teacher, a childcare worker, a scientist, builder, or other. How does this impact you or those you serve?
“I am a builder in XYZ city and…”
- Summarize your position: Wrap up your testimony by briefly repeating your position on the legislation under consideration.
“In short, I believe that, if passed, this legislation will be a boon to our community because of its XYZ benefits. I urge you to vote in favor of it.”
- End with “thank you”: Offer a final thank you to the elected officials. Acknowledging the time they are spending in service to the public will go a long way.
“Thank you for listening to my perspective, and thank you for your time tonight.”
Two more tips for tip-top testimony
- Put it in writing: Hats off to you if you stood before the legislative body and presented your compelling testimony. Double your effectiveness by bringing printed copies of your commentary to the hearing or meeting and hand it to each elected official. Email your comment before or after the meeting to each lawmaker. Include citations for the facts/data that you share in your written comments.
- Time yourself: Research ahead of time the rules for the number of minutes members of the public are allowed to speak. Write your testimony and practice it out loud (your reading versus your speaking speed may vary) using a timer. Give yourself wiggle room by drafting testimony below the maximum allotted time in case you want to add in a point at the last minute depending on what speakers before you have said. Last, but not least, don’t leave your strongest point for the very end, in case you get cut off before your final remarks.
Now, grab the mic, take a deep breath, and go get ‘em! We at Resource Media are in admiration of you for bravely telling your story, elevating your vision for the future, and inspiring others to reimagine the possibilities whether for your local community or our country.
