Public Policy Advocacy
Public policy advocacy is for everyone. You don’t need special skills or experience to speak up about what matters to you. Public policy shapes services, funding, housing, employment, and everyday life for people with disabilities. When you share your story and your needs, you help elected officials make better decisions.
Register and Vote in Hamilton County
Voting is one of the most direct ways to influence public policy. The Hamilton County Board of Elections is the official source for all voting information in Hamilton County, including how to register, check your registration status, find your polling place, and vote by mail.
You can register to vote, update your address, and more online. Click here to visit the Board of Elections registration page.
You can confirm that you’re registered, make sure your address is correct, and find your polling place here. Click here to check your registration status at the Board of Elections.
You can find out when elections are, learn how to vote early, see what’s on your ballot, and much more. Click here to find more resources at the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
How to Contact Your Legislators
Elected officials want to hear from the people they represent. Personal contact, especially from constituents with lived experiences, can help them make good decisions. Here are effective ways to make your voice heard:
Think about what matters most to you. It might be specific services, funding, housing, employment, transportation, healthcare, or something else. You don't need all the answers; sharing your experience is enough.
Use the links on this page to find the right person at the right level of government for your issue. If you live somewhere else or want to find your city, township, or village officials, you may need to use a search engine.
A brief phone call is one of the most impactful ways to be heard. Staff log every call, even if you just leave a message. Say your name, that you're a constituent, the issue you're calling about, and what you'd like them to do or know.
Written messages let you share your story in more detail. Use official contact forms on their websites or email addresses they share on their websites. Be specific about how the issue affects you personally.
Many legislators hold public meetings to hear from constituents. Many public meetings include a public comment portion where you can sign up to speak. You can also schedule a meeting with legislators or their staff.
Find Your Elected Officials
You’re represented by elected officials at multiple levels of government, from your city or township, your county, the Ohio Statehouse, and the U.S. Congress. Each level makes decisions that affect your life. Knowing who represents you is the first step to contacting them and making your voice heard.
Click the button below to find information about Hamilton County Commissioners
Click the button below to find your city or village council member, township trustee, school board representatives, or another elected official in Hamilton County.
Click the button below to find your state representative and state senator.
Click the button below to find your U.S. House of Representatives member and your two U.S. Senators.
Most neighborhoods in Cincinnati have a community council, which are a great way to get involved with important decisions where you live. Click the button below to find your community council.
Tips for Effective Advocacy
You don’t need to be an expert on policy. Your personal experience and perspective are exactly what legislators need to understand the real-world impact of their decisions.
Describe how an issue affects your daily life. Real stories are more memorable than statistics alone.
Tell your representative what you'd like them to do — vote yes or no, increase funding, support legislation, add/remove language in proposed legislation.
Identify yourself as someone who lives in their district. Elected officials represent their constituents first, so your voice as a constituent matters.
It can be scary to go to a meeting or public hearing by yourself. Bring a family member, support person, friend, or advocate with you to meetings or hearings if that helps.
Send a thank-you note after a meeting or hearing. Stay in touch as an issue moves forward and build relationships so you can continue to work together with your representatives in the future.
If you have a developmental disability and are interested in an individualized advocacy education, contact Family and Advocacy Supervisor Amber Cowart.