Each state’s unique approach to elections shapes the democratic process. Between factors like mail-in-voting and voter ID requirements, navigating voting laws is complicated. What’s more, the 2020 election raised concerns over election integrity and the security of our democracy. Heightened scrutiny on absentee and provisional ballots led many legislators to seek to modify our election process. As a response, voting rights advocates aim to break down barriers to voting.

What’s the status of new voting laws, and how will they impact the 2024 elections? This guide aims to help Americans navigate and understand the upcoming election.

Election Controversy in 2020

The 2020 presidential election was marked by confusion and controversy. Following his loss, former President Donald Trump questioned the accuracy of the election. There was surprise among election experts and citizens alike that historically Republican states like Arizona and Georgia went blue. This unprecedented outcome, paired with Trump’s claims, led to a slew of recounts, lawsuits, and calls of fraudulence. 

Scrutiny and public outcry, though largely unfounded, sowed widespread concern and unrest. On January 6, 2021, then-President Trump hosted a rally in front of the White House. On that day, Congress was set to verify the results of the 2020 election. This gathering quickly became what is now known as the “January 6th Insurrection.” Thousands of rally attendees approached the Capitol and broke into the building, killing five and leaving 174 injured.

Since the 2020 election, lawsuits on election interference have mostly been settled. Each recount returned without evidence of fraud or election interference. Though these outcomes are positive news regarding the security of our democracy, high levels of distrust remain.

New Voting Laws in 2024

Election laws have been a significant focus of legislative action in the United States since the 2020 and 2022 elections. As of the fall of 2023, 14 states have enacted laws that decrease access to voting. On the other side of the issue, 23 states have enacted laws that expand access to voting. All of these bills will be in effect during the 2024 general election. 

Efforts to Expand Access to Voting

In 2024, 23 states enacted expansive voting laws, including Michigan, New York, Nevada, and Connecticut, among others. Learn more about new voting laws passed in these states below.

Michigan SB 367, SB 370, HB 4697, and SB 373

The Michigan legislature passed SB 367, SB 370, HB 4697, and SB 373 as part of a comprehensive “democracy reform” package. As part of the package, SB 367 expands access to nine days of early voting. The next bill, SB 370 provides an easier process to vote by mail. HB 4697 allows for increased access to drop boxes. Finally, SB 373 sets forth a more expansive list of accepted identifications. 

New York A 4009, S 1733, and S 5984

In New York, the state legislature passed A 4009, S 1733, and S 5984 in an effort to expand voting access through various avenues. A 4009 requires correctional facilities to provide voter registration forms to formerly incarcerated people. Next, S 1733 requires high schools to provide voter registration forms to students. Finally, S 5984 allows citizens to register to vote closer to election days.

Nevada SB 327, SB 216, and AB 286

The Nevada legislature passed SB 327, SB 216, and AB 286. The laws make it easier for certain historically disadvantaged populations to vote. In particular, SB 327 and SB 216 make it easier to vote on Native Reservations. In addition, AB 286 makes it easier for incarcerated individuals to vote from jail.The new laws also increase accommodations for people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote.

Connecticut SB 1226

Finally, the Connecticut state legislature became the sixth state to enact a Voting Rights Act with SB 1226. This came as a result of recent Supreme Court decisions regarding voting. It was an attempt to ensure the discrimination protections provided by the Voting Rights Act are enshrined in state law. Under the new law, municipalities with a history of discriminatory practices are subject to enhanced oversight. The law also created a higher threshold of protection against voter intimidation in the state.

Efforts to Restrict Access to Voting

In 2024, 14 states enacted laws restricting voting rights and access, including Nebraska, Mississippi, and Texas, among others. Learn more about new voting laws passed in these states below.

Nebraska LB 514

The Nebraska legislature adopted LB 514. The new law requires all mail-in ballot voters without a Nebraska ID to mail in a copy of an approved photo ID alongside their ballot. There are few expectations to this rule, of which do not include the inability to access a printer or photocopier. Therefore, the new law may prevent voters from casting their ballot if they cannot access a printer. 

Mississippi SB 2358

In Mississippi, the state legislature passed SB 2358. Under the new law, anyone who is not an election official, postal worker, family member, household member, or caregiver and assists a voter with turning in their ballot will receive criminal penalties. Voting rights advocates argue that the new law will make it more difficult for people with disabilities to vote by mail.

Texas SB 924

The Texas legislature passed SB 924, which will allow counties to consolidate polling locations. The new law increases the likelihood of long wait times for voters. It may also require voters to travel a further distance in order to reach their appropriate polling location.

Overall, the most common forms of restrictive voting legislation include:

• Curbing access to mail-in voting
• Increasing voter ID requirements
• Banning the use of ballot-drop boxes.

It’s been proven that access to mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes, and less stringent voter ID laws make voting more accessible to low-income or otherwise disadvantaged Americans.

Implications for the 2024 Elections

Elections immensely impact economic, social, and political issues throughout the country. Presidential elections only increase these implications, since it’s possible that the entire Executive Branch will be transformed and guided by new priorities, strategies, and goals. Evaluating these implications is a key step in determining which candidate to vote for. Below, we summarize some of the economic, social, and political issues that the 2024 presidential election will impact.

Economic Implications of the 2024 Election

The Biden and Trump Administrations have very different strategies on key economic issues. Key economic issues include inflation, taxes, and corporate responsibility. The differences in these policies are crucial — they have a direct impact on job creation, the income of families, and the stability of the economy. Economic issues will play a major role in shaping how voters decide, reflecting what’s best for their own and their community’s financial health.

Social Implications of the 2024 Election

The 2024 election is generating significant discussion, especially when it comes to social topics. Biden and Trump have vastly different views on many social issues. They disagree on key issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, affirmative action, and climate change. Social issues go beyond politics; they touch everyday life. Social issues will play a significant role in the 2024 election, as voters weigh the candidates based on their own values.

Political Implications of the 2024 Election

In the political arena, the outcome of the 2024 election holds significant consequences for the opposing party. The landscape of bipartisanship has grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Consequently, navigating a divided government poses considerable challenges in advancing policy initiatives. The election results could substantially influence the legislative process.

Check Your Voter Registration and Make a Plan to Vote

Ensuring you are registered to vote can be a complicated process. This is especially true if you are new to voting, have recently moved, or recently obtained citizenship. The best way to check your voter registration status within your state is through the U.S. government voter registration website. You’ll be directed to your state’s voter registration status website based on your address and information. 

Many states have voter registration deadlines of 15+ days prior to the election. This means you must be registered and confirmed prior to that deadline in order to vote in the election. Further, if you have recently moved, even within the same state or district, you must update your voter registration status with your state. Many states allow voters to provide this update electronically. These rules apply to general elections, special elections, and primary elections throughout the United States.  

Different voting methods will require a more detailed plan that differentiates between states. See our tips below. 

In-Person Voting

Voting in-person means you have ensured you are registered to vote within your state. If you’re voting in-person, you’ll be notified of your polling location to cast your ballot. 

Before arriving to vote, be sure to double check your polling location for each election. It’s not uncommon that a polling location will have moved from the last election due to staffing issues, or space availability. 

Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots are similar to vote-by-mail ballots in that you are able to send in your ballot through mail. There are a few circumstances in which voting through an absentee ballot are accepted. These include if you are out of state during the election or if you are military personnel and currently abroad, or on an out-of-state military base, among others. Many states require absentee voters to provide a credible reason for their need to vote in this way.

Follow this link to find out if your state allows you to vote via an absentee ballot. 

Mail-In Ballot

Mail-in ballots are official programs implemented by state governments allowing people to vote by mail in any election. When voting with a mail-in ballot, voters won’t be required to provide justification as to why they are not voting in-person.

Vote-by-mail programs have seen increases in voter turnout. They provide voters with the flexibility of mailing their ballot weeks or days ahead of the election. Vote-by-mail programs allow voters with inflexible responsibilities to vote when it works best for them.  

Provisional Ballot

Provisional ballots are available for people whose names do not appear on the voter registration list at the precinct. Sometimes this is the result of a mistake — the individual either appeared at the wrong precinct, or thought they were registered to vote but did not complete their registration. In these situations, the individual may cast a provisional ballot. The Registrar’s office will confirm that the individual is able to vote in the election.

Get Started With Plural to Monitor New Voting Laws in 2024

The 2024 elections are right around the corner — are you prepared and informed on new voting laws? Plural is the policy tracking tool of choice for those looking to monitor new voting laws in 2024. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Resources for Public Policy Teams

Key Benefits of AI for Lobbying & Advocacy

Want to be able to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence for lobbying and advocacy? Everyone is talking about AI. And we get it, it’s not simple to understand. But as an AI-powered organization, Plural is here to help you get the most out of advancements in AI to make your job as a policy […]

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State-Specific Resources

2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar

Staying on top of key deadlines is manageable in one state, but if you’re tracking bills across multiple states, or nationwide, it quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s why we created the 2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar. Stay ahead of important dates and download our calendar today. Get started with Plural. Plural helps top public policy teams get […]

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State-Specific Resources

End of Session Report: Florida 2024 Legislative Session

The 2024 Florida legislative session saw significant activity in the realm of insurance and financial services, reflecting key themes of consumer protection, market stability, and regulatory modernization.

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The post How New Voting Laws are Impacting the 2024 Elections: A State-by-State Guide appeared first on Plural Policy.

Policy briefs are concise, written documents that provide policymakers with a clear understanding of an issue and suggest policy options based on research, analysis, and evidence.

When effective, policy briefs can be used to advance your organization’s goals, influence decision-making, position yourself or your organization as a thought leader, and more!

Need help getting started? Download our fully-customizable policy brief template and start writing your effective policy brief today!

The post Public Policy Brief Template appeared first on Plural Policy.

Here are four options to access Plural’s 2024 Legislative Sessions Calendar. Choose the one that’s best for you:

1. Google Calendar: Add the calendar directly to your Google Calendar using this link.
2. Outlook or Other Calendars: Add the calendar as a public calendar through Outlook or other calendar applications. (Outlook instructions)
3. View Online: View and bookmark the calendar online here. 
4. Download a PDF: View and download a PDF of session start dates and expected adjournment.

A few things to note:

• The majority of legislative sessions begin within the first two weeks of January and end between late March and mid-May.
• 15 states are scheduled to have significantly shorter sessions than in 2023. Only 4 states are scheduled to have significantly longer sessions.
• Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia will enter 2024 with the most new legislators after those states held regular legislative elections this fall.
• 4 states (Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas) only host regular sessions during even-numbered years, and do not have a regular session scheduled for 2024.
• 4 states, Puerto Rico, and the US Congress meet throughout the entirety of the year and do not generally have a typical end-of-session adjournment scheduled.

More Resources for Public Policy Professionals

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

The post 2024 Legislative Sessions Calendar appeared first on Plural Policy.

Analyzing Voting Rights Legislation in 2023

Debates around voting rights have always been central to American political discourse. The 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries saw the expansion of the right to vote to religious minorities, people of color and women. However, the statutory right to vote was never the end goal for voting rights advocates. The civil rights movement, particularly the Voting Rights Act of 1965, drove our nation nearer to fair and equal democratic participation.

Policy impacting voting rights is a priority issue for state legislators, intensified by contentious national elections and imperfect systems.

The 2024 elections are quickly approaching. As of July 2023, state legislators have introduced 1,188 bills impacting voting rights. Eighty bills have made it through the legislative process to become law. Understanding this activity, including how and where it is playing out, is key to understanding democracy. We leveraged Plural’s data analyze legislation affecting voting rights and access so far in 2023.

In our analysis, we focused on legislation that expanded or limited access to vote. For example, legislation increasing early vote time is categorized as expanding, while legislation restricting mail-in voting is categorized as restricting. While important to monitor, legislation unrelated to the ability to vote, like bills that regulate ballot-counting devices, were not considered.

Looking Ahead to 2024

Following the 2020 elections, voting rights became a central issue in 2022 campaigns as well as the 2023 legislative sessions. As we approach another contentious national election in 2024, attention on voting policy will continue to grow. Plural is committed to analyzing the trends in this space to help the public understand our democratic processes. 

Get Started with Plural

Plural helps you get and stay ahead in the complex public policy landscape. With Plural, you can:

• Access superior public policy data
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of AI to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

How Vote Mama Lobby Empowers Moms By Using Plural for Tracking Policy

Vote Mama Lobby is dedicated to transforming the political landscape for moms. Its team advocates to break the institutional barriers moms face in running for and serving in office, and gives voice to the solutions that allow everyday families to thrive.  Vote Mama Foundation is a leading non-partisan 501(c)(3) entity that provides research and analysis […]

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Here’s Why Leadership Wants Your GR, Legal & Compliance Teams to Use AI

In an era of accelerating regulation, geopolitical uncertainty, and rising stakeholder expectations, the margin for error in corporate governance has never been thinner. For senior leaders — CEOs, GCs, COOs, and Chief Risk Officers — ensuring that their legal, compliance, and government relations (GR) teams are equipped to respond quickly and strategically is essential. Enter […]

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What I Learned from Working at a Startup Company as a College Student

By Jay Oliveira My time at Plural has been transformative.  As a third-year policy student at Suffolk University in Boston, I had already spent hours pouring over legislative websites for my coursework. I struggled to use legislative sources that would open up dozens of unreadable files, or would make it unclear what chamber the bill […]

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The post Legislation Affecting Voting Rights and Access in 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

What is ESG Investing?

Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is an investment strategy involving the consideration of a company’s environmental impact, social impact and governance history. These considerations are used to determine whether and where they will invest funds. ESG is also referred to as socially responsible investing or sustainable investing.

Interest in ESG investing has grown in the private sector. As a result, many large investing firms have begun to offer information about the impact of investments. This offers flexibility for investors to put their money towards “better” investments. The European Union (EU) has been the epicenter of ESG investing. The EU has taken steps to improve corporate transparency and aid ESG. For example, the EU increased reporting requirements for financial firms and companies.

ESG Legislation and Regulation

Regulatory action on ESG investing in the United States had been sparse. However, there has been an increase in legislation on ESG investing. This growth has occurred at both the state and federal levels. The trend is driven by recent actions by the Biden administration as well as Republicans’ focus on the so-called “culture wars.”

Over two-thirds of U.S. state legislatures have considered anti-ESG legislation in 2023, and 14 states have enacted legislation restricting the use of ESG factors in public investments and procurements. On the other side of the debate, just one pro-ESG bill has become law and only 11 states have even considered such legislation. While consumer demand for ESG investing has grown, the data in this report shows a wave of anti-ESG legislation rising to challenge that trend. 

The Plural team sought to better understand legislation regarding ESG investing. To do so, we analyzed the 2023 legislative sessions of all 50 states, US Congress and Washington, DC. This data is up-to-date as of July 19, 2023.

Key Findings

ESG investing has become a prevalent topic of discussion in state legislatures across the country. Understanding the state-of-play in these debates will allow you to be better prepared for their next iterations.

Overall, it’s unclear how states will progress in this space as well as how new laws will impact our economy at-large. At Plural, we’re committed to increasing government transparency. This involves shedding light on laws under consideration and analyzing their impact on our communities.

The post ESG Legislation in the First Six Months of 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

It can be tempting to tie any legislative trend to a single event. However, mass shootings have become so common in the United States that it’s difficult to identify the exact motivation leading to legislation. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. is on track for over 600 mass shootings this year. 2023 will be the fourth straight year of this high rate of gun violence. With this violence, it’s safe to assume that a desire to save lives motivates much of this legislation.

Gun control laws are a mainstay within U.S. political discourse. Given this fact, the Plural team sought to examine gun control policy in the first half of 2023. We leveraged Plural’s legislative dataset, categorizing legislation according to whether it increased or decreased access to firearms.

Read the full report to see our analysis of legislation impacting access to firearms throughout the first six months of 2023.

Key Takeaways

Data on gun policy shows us how many of the trends of the past decade continue to play out. It should also remind us that state legislatures are constantly introducing and passing new policies.

States like Florida and Washington continue to trend toward opposite positions. At the same time, states like Utah, Michigan and Minnesota have proven to be factories of significant change. Understanding this continuing, heated debate requires an understanding of both the policy being introduced, which may set the conversation, and the policy being enacted, which will affect conditions in our communities.

The post Legislating Access to Firearms in 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

A Growth in Consumer Demand for Electric Vehicles

Consumer demand for EVs has grown rapidly. A decade ago, EVs accounted for less than 1% of total car sales. In 2021, they accounted for nearly 5% of total sales. Legislators across the country are racing to enact policy to accommodate this growth.

Plural’s Analysis of Electric Vehicle Policy

Harnessing Plural’s unmatched legislative data, our team analyzed legislation surrounding EVs so far in 2023. Read our report to see our findings.

Electric vehicle policy is a growing trend. These bills may affect the pace of EV transition and the automotive industry’s impact on the environment. Using Plural’s data, it’s clear that the first six months of 2023 have been the busiest for EV policy in history. These changes will drive electric vehicle policy development through the rest of 2023 and into next year. Understanding the state of play at this moment is important to prepare for that activity.

The post A Look at Electric Vehicle Policy in 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

If you don’t report it, it didn’t happen, right? And if you can’t find the data you need to document all of your work throughout the session, you can’t report on it. 

Creating a legislative report is key to proving the impact of your role, your team and your organization. It showcases the tangible results of your work to your board, stakeholders and community members.

Need help getting started? Download our end-of-session report template today!

The post End-of-Session Report Template appeared first on Plural Policy.

Need help getting started? Download our free, fully-customizable stakeholder mapping visualization tool and supercharge your stakeholder engagement strategy!

The post Stakeholder Mapping Tool appeared first on Plural Policy.

Lobbying at the State vs. Federal Level

Lobbying at the state level versus at the federal level is very similar, but there are some key differences between the two practices, including: jurisdiction, the scope of authority of each legislature, and the differences in the legislative process between state governments and the federal government.

Jurisdiction

First, the jurisdiction of the federal government encompasses all states in the United States. As such, policy objectives when lobbying the federal government are often broader. Further, federal policies impact the entire American population, generating a higher level of impact on a broad range of different groups, organizations, and communities. Laws passed by state legislatures, on the other hand, only affect the citizens of a given state.

Scope

Another key difference between state and federal policy is the type of differing types of issues that each can address. For example, state governments handle matters of education, healthcare, transportation, and other localized issues. In comparison, the federal government is tasked with handling issues that impact and regulate the entire county, such as immigration policy, the military, international relations and conflict, and commerce.  

Therefore, should a lobbyist be charged with the responsibility of impacting immigration policy, their efforts are more likely to be targeted at the federal level, since the federal government has a higher scope of authority on the issue.

Legislative Processes

Lastly, the difference in legislative processes between individual state governments and the federal government are immense and often require specialized knowledge. State and Federal governments have different rules for who may introduce bills, how committees are run, and even how voting will occur in their respective legislative chambers. These differences create  the need for lobbyists who understand these differences and are able to continue to leverage influence, strategize and support in order to continue to defend their respective causes within a specific legislative context.

Six Steps to Effective Lobbying

Lobbyists, in essence, are messengers who work to convey their concerns, ideas, and policy suggestions to elected officials, legislative staff, and other political decision-makers. While the specific process and legal requirements behind lobbying and policy influence do depend on each specific state and its regulations, here are six steps to help you successfully lobby at the state level:

Determine Your Legislative Priority

First, determine your legislative priority by  narrowing down the “what”, “when”, and “how” parameters of your organization’s mission and goals. For example, if your goal is to increase equity within education systems in the state of California, Michigan, or Texas, ask yourself: what specific problem must be addressed in my state in order to reach my goal of educational equity? Answering this question will allow you to narrow down exactly what needs to be addressed. It is essential to consider a broad variety of ideas and conduct thorough research and analysis to understand the dynamics of your problem, and how it will be most successfully addressed. 

Next, identify the “when”. When understanding a problem you are likely to come up with a laundry list of issues that must be solved, and creative solutions that are essential to implement. Answering ‘when’, reminds one to think intentionally within the context of the current legislative session, what will be most impactful, and identify the current state of political interest in your topic. For example, when seeking educational equity in California, defining ‘when’ will include analyzing what factors are necessary for your change to occur, you will want to set your strategies on when your issues will become the most salient. Such as during an election year. During election years there is momentum and will from legislators to make policy improvements that positively impact their constituents, often education is one of these all encompassing issues. 

Finally, identify the “how” by creating a list of strategies and goals that will enable you to create a successful legislative plan. Defining how you will strategize comes from understanding the audiences that are both against and for your suggested policy adjustment. Continuing the example of education equity in California, it will likely be most advantageous to have a strong relationship with PTA (Parent Teacher Associations) boards, student leaders who you coordinate with to amplify the necessity of your issue and the state should be in an economic state that has space to request additional programs in the states education budget. The combination of identifying what, when, and how allows you to create a clear legislative strategy  that is  consistent with your mission and relevant within the current political context.

Identify Your Target Lawmaker(s)

Now that you have your legislative priorities clear, it is essential to identify your target elected officials, legislative staff members, and coalition leaders. The individuals who are essential to identify will be those with whom your goals align, or those who may be a roadblock to you achieving your goals. 

In order to identify those who will work to assist you in completing your goals, conduct research on the representatives who govern the area most impacted by your policy issues and become familiar with their legislative goals for the session to determine if there is alignment. You can also identify news, politics, and academic leaders within the research that support your cause, as they will be helpful in generating knowledge and awareness of your campaign issue. 

In order to identify those who may work against you, look at the voting records of the state you are planning to lobby within, seek out their voting history on the issue you are lobbying for and identify those who have a consistent track record of voting against projects like yours. 

Use Plural to identify key political officials on the committees that will be reviewing your policy proposals. Within Plural you can search for any legislator and be immediately provided with the comprehensive list of their office contact information, committee assignments, vote data and all of their authored and co-sponsored bills. Further, you and your team can make notes in the legislator’s profile. Having one location for this level of essential data is critical for lobbying. Lobbying opportunities can present themselves at unexpected moments, sometimes in elevators, hallways, or post committee meetings to have the ability to look up a legislator’s name and understand their political perspective and key roles in the legislature provides a key advantage to those who utilize Plural to lobby and track policy.

Refine Your Messaging

Next, it is essential to define your messaging as an individual and organization when lobbying. Establishing your messaging involves understanding your audience, the issue at hand, and  your proposed solution. Your messaging is essential to a successful lobbying campaign — how people understand and connect with your campaign can generate political will. 

A unique way to refine your messaging is to connect your issue and policy solution to a compelling narrative. This can happen by connecting policymakers with the community of individuals who are directly affected by the policy you are seeking to change, humanizing the overall issue.

When engaging with individual staff members and elected officials, be sure to emphasize the local impact of your policy proposal and how it aligns with constituent needs and interests. Provide specific examples or stories that illustrate the positive effects on their district or region and be sure to personalize the issue to make it more relatable and relevant.

Consider Your Approach

When considering how to approach your lobbying efforts at the State Capitol, there are many ways to engage with the political process. Be sure to research the legislative process, the state budget, influential government officials and staff members, and, most importantly, your state’s guidelines surrounding engagement with politics and policy. 

There are many different approaches to engagement with staff members and elected officials, including 1:1 meetings, organized events, volunteer efforts, fundraising dinners, state capitol protests, or simply running into them in the halls of the Capitol building. Each approach provides benefits or disadvantages, in order to make each a success focus first on building relationships as they are core to the political process.

Reach Out

Reaching out to elected officials and government employees can be an intimidating experience, especially when you are not sure where to start. 

A great place to start is by researching and connecting with people on committees where many of your bills will pass through. For example, a lobbyist who works for an education non-profit will want to research the education committee members and reach out to individuals who align with their ideals. Using Plural, a lobbyist could begin with our Jurisdictions Map, locate their state, and then view all the committees in the state legislature. Plural provides the partisan party makeup of each committee and the structure of each committee. This information is valuable to a state-level lobbyist in strategizing connections and building issue awareness in order to pass essential legislation.

Remember to Follow Up

Always remember to follow up. Staying connected and relevant in today’s world can be difficult; make it a fundamental task to stay in touch with your representatives and political coalitions as a lobbyist or advocate. 

When lobbying, there will be many policies that connect to your mission and require your consistent attention. Using Plural, you can track individual bills that you are focusing on for the legislative session in your state. While tracking a bill, Plural will notify you of upcoming events and actions on the bill prior to essential vote days, or days when your bill will be read in committee you should follow up with your representatives about their necessary support. This follow-up can be a  reminder of the research gathered by your organization proving that the policy would be positively impactful for the community you represent.

Plural for Lobbyists

Impacting state policy is no easy task – as such, state-level lobbying is most often a coordinated, team effort because of the level of work that it takes to make an impact on state policy. Using Plural, a small team of lobbyists can do the work of a large organization by intelligently tracking policy, keeping people connected to important events, and creating workspaces optimized for collaboration. 

As a state-level lobbyist, one of your most important duties is to track multiple bills as they move through committees and chambers within your respective state capitol. Plural streamlines bill tracking so that your team can all be aware of the priority bills that will be watched most closely throughout the session. Further, as a lobbyist, it is essential to build relationships with the correct government officials, utilizing Plural you can easily find contact info for committee leadership and  majority or minority leaders of the House and Senate. . Quick access to information on government officials increases democratic access by making it easier to connect with one’s representatives. 

Lastly,  Plural is a collaborative tool for members of your organization and team to connect with the legislative process and bill text directly. Team members can annotate bill text, highlight areas, make notes and share these actions with all members of your team to keep people informed, up to date and hold a critical eye to the text of complicated legislation.

Looking for a solution to streamline your lobbying work?

The post How to Lobby at the State Level appeared first on Plural Policy.