Creating your 'ask'
When you are advocating to government, it is important to have a clear ‘ask.’ I.e., what are you asking for?
Start by identifying the problem and solution you want to bring to government.
- The problem is the issue you are facing.
- The solution is the change that you want to see.
Based on your problem and solution, you can then think about which level of government and which government decision-maker you need to advocate to.
Sometimes, you might have a clear idea of your problem, but might not know what the solution looks like. Think about what action the government would need to take for the change you want to take place.
Here are some of the actions a government can take:
- Changing a law
- Enforcing a law
- Introducing a new law
- Changing a government policy
- Increasing or changing government funding
- Creating a new program
- Overturning a law
If you are not sure what action the government needs to take on your issue, you can do some research to find out. Read about the issue online and find out if others are asking for any specific changes. Ask people in your network who might be more knowledgeable about this topic or reach out to organizations who work on this issue to see if they can give you some advice.
If you still are not sure, don’t be afraid to ask a government contact, such as a constituency staff member. While it is helpful to have a specific ask before you contact government, you are not expected to be an expert on laws and policy. They might be able to guide you on what you should be asking for.
