Elected Officials Should Make Their Positions Known To Build Public Support.

Does expressing a position help state legislators build support even if their positions are controversial or opposite to the public?
 
Background
 
8 Democratic state legislators from a Midwestern state agreed to participate in the experiment.  Constituents took surveys before getting letters from the legislators.  In the first round one legislator sent some constituents letters taking an opposite stance on an issue while other constituents did not receive a letter.  In the second round seven legislators did the same thing except some of the letters had an extensive explanation while others had a brief explanation.  Recipients were also surveyed after they received the letters.
 
Results

• First Round: There was no backlash against the legislator for taking an opposite stance.
• Second Round: There was no backlash against a legislator for taking an opposite stance.  Sometimes constituents supported a legislator more after receiving a letter.  The length of the explanation had a very small effect.
• Overall Lesson: At the state level legislators who do not communicate their positions on controversial issues could be better off making their positions known to the public.

 
Link to Study

The New York Times Article on Study
 
Governing.com Article on Study