Voting matters. So does participating in the conversations that shape the future of public policy before election day. ECA Votes can help you find an engagement opportunity that works for your time, interests, and comfort level. Click one of the images below to get started today.

You do not need a day on Capitol Hill to make your voice heard. There are meaningful ways to participate in the policy process, whether you have five minutes, half an hour, or an hour. The most important thing is to start.

HAVE 5 MINUTES?

Get election ready.
Register to vote, check your voter registration, and make sure you know when, where, and how you plan to vote.

Learn one issue.
Pick one of the seven issues in the ECA Votes 2026 Midterm Election Guide and read the two-page overview.

Choose one candidate question.
Save one of the 14 ECA Votes questions for candidates on your phone so you have it ready when an opportunity arises.

Share your perspective.
Post one sentence on LinkedIn about why business events matter to your company, career, or community.

Take action.
If you want to advocate for one of ECA’s current policy priorities, visit the ECA Advocacy Network's Action Center to contact your elected officials. ECA makes that possible with just a few clicks.

HAVE 30 MINUTES?

Research the candidates.
Visit campaign websites and review what candidates have said about one or two issues that matter to you.

Tell your story.
Use the ECA Votes “Tell Your Business Events Story” worksheet to develop a 30-second explanation of who you are, what your work makes possible, and how a policy issue affects you.

Write a letter to the editor
Respond to a recent local story or describe why an issue affecting business events matters in your community.

Engage online.
Follow your elected officials and candidates, see what they are discussing, and respectfully add your professional perspective when relevant.

HAVE 1 HOUR?

Attend a candidate event.
Go to a town hall, community meeting, or candidate forum and ask one thoughtful question.

Meet with a current policymaker.
Request a meeting with a congressional or state legislative office to discuss an issue affecting your work.

Invite a policymaker or candidate to an event.
If you organize or support a trade show, conference, or other business event, consider bringing an elected official to the show floor.

Write an op-ed
Use your professional experience to explain how a policy issue affects businesses, workers, or events in your community.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Five minutes can inform you. Thirty minutes can amplify your voice. An hour can help build a lasting relationship.

You do not need to be a policy expert to have a useful conversation with a candidate.

Town halls, community meetings, chamber events, candidate forums, and other public gatherings give voters an opportunity to learn how candidates think about issues that affect their professions, businesses, and communities.

The goal is simple: introduce yourself, explain why the issue matters to you, and ask a clear question.

BEFORE THE EVENT

1. Know who you are going to hear.

Spend a few minutes reviewing the candidate's website and public statements.

You do not need to know everything they have said. You just want enough context to ask an informed question.

2. Pick one issue.

Trying to cover three or four ECA priorities in one interaction rarely works.

Choose the issue that matters most to you, your organization, or your community.

3. Prepare your introduction.

Keep it to about 15 seconds.

Then establish why the issue matters:

4. Prepare one question.

The ECA Votes 2026 Midterm Voter Guide has 14 questions designed for exactly this purpose.

Pick one. Shorten it if necessary. Write it on your phone.

AT THE EVENT

1. Make it personal.

A statistic can provide context. Your own experience makes the issue real.

Instead of:

Try:

2. Ask, don't lecture.

The purpose of an election event is to learn where the candidate stands.

Ask one clear question and give them room to answer.

3. Be concise.

If you have the microphone, assume you have 30–60 seconds, not five minutes.

A simple formula works: WHO I AM → WHY IT MATTERS → MY QUESTION

4. Ask for specifics.

If the answer is broad, a respectful follow-up can help:

or

AFTER THE EVENT

• Thank the candidate or staff member if you have the opportunity.

• If the conversation was substantive, follow up with a brief email and a relevant ECA resource.

• And if you took a photo or learned something useful, share the experience with your colleagues or online.

Download a printable PDF of this resource here.

Facts explain an issue. Stories explain why it matters.

Policymakers and candidates hear statistics all day. What they may not hear is what a policy decision actually means for a business, employee, exhibitor, venue, association, or community back home.

ECA can help you build your industry story in four easy steps.

STEP 1. WHO ARE YOU?

My name is: _________________________.

I live/work in: _________________________.

My role in the business and professional events industry is: _________________________.

STEP 2. WHAT DOES YOUR WORK MAKE POSSIBLE?

My company, organization, or event:

☐ Creates jobs
☐ Supports small businesses
☐ Brings visitors to my community
☐ Connects buyers and sellers
☐ Provides education or professional development
☐ Introduces new products and ideas
☐ Supports an association or nonprofit mission
☐ Other: _________________________________

One thing I wish policymakers understood about my work is: _________________________________.

STEP 3. HOW DOES THE POLICY ISSUE AFFECT YOU?

The issue I want to discuss is: ______________________________.

Here is one real example of how this issue affects my organization, customers, employees, event, or community: ______________________________.

STEP 4. WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND?

Finish with a question:

“Given that experience, how would you approach ______________________________?”

THE 30-SECOND VERSION

Example:

That is far more memorable than reciting five statistics.

THREE RULES FOR A GOOD STORY

Make it real.
Use something you have personally seen or experienced.

Make it local.
Jobs, businesses, customers, and events in a candidate's state or district are especially useful context.

Make it short.
The best story is often 30–60 seconds.

Download a printable PDF of this resource here.

Your professional experience can help make public policy more understandable.

Social media gives industry professionals a direct way to explain how policy decisions affect their work, their customers, and their communities.

You do not need to become a political commentator.

You simply need to share what you know.

WHAT SHOULD I POST ABOUT?

“I work in business events because…”
Show what the industry means to your career.

“Here is what this event means to our community…”
Highlight jobs, small businesses, visitors, or economic activity.

“One policy issue affecting our industry is…”
Explain the issue in plain English.

“Here is what I wish policymakers understood…”
Share one real-world perspective.

“Here is the question I’m asking candidates this year…”
Use one of the 14 ECA Votes candidate questions.

THE BEST POSTS ARE PERSONAL

Instead of:

Try:

The second post explains the why.

WHEN ENGAGING CANDIDATES OR ELECTED OFFICIALS

Keep it professional.

Ask questions rather than assuming motives.

Stick to your experience and expertise.

Avoid personal attacks.

If you tag someone, make sure the post would still feel appropriate if you were saying it to them face-to-face.

SAMPLE POSTS

Want to do more? Join the ECA Social Influencer Program for year-round opportunities to amplify ECA’s public policy work online.

Download a printable PDF of this resource here.

Help your community understand why business and professional events matter.

Local media can be a powerful way to explain how policy decisions affect businesses, workers, and events in your community.

OP-ED OR LETTER TO THE EDITOR?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Best when:

• responding to an article or editorial;
• reacting quickly to a current issue;
• making one concise point.

Typical target: about 200–250 words, although publication requirements vary. 

OP-ED

Best when:

• explaining an issue in greater depth;
• sharing your professional perspective;
• connecting a national policy debate to your community or industry.

Typical target: about 500–800 words, although publication requirements vary. 

THE ECA FORMULA

Here is a five-part framework for creating a great op-ed or letter to the editor.

1. START WITH THE MOMENT

Why are you writing now?

A new policy?
A vote in Congress?
A local event?
A recent news story?

2. MAKE IT LOCAL

Tell readers why someone in their community should care.

is much stronger than:

3. TELL A STORY

Explain what you have personally seen.

• How did a tariff change affect an exhibitor?
• Did a visa delay keep someone from attending?
• What does a local convention mean to workers or small businesses?

4. ADD JUST ENOUGH DATA

Use one or two strong data points to put the story in context.

Do not turn the piece into a policy memo.

5. END CLEARLY

Readers should know the idea you want them to remember.

SAMPLE OP-ED OUTLINE

Headline
A short statement of the argument.

Paragraph 1: The hook
A timely event, story, or surprising fact.

Paragraphs 2–3: Why this matters locally
Your organization, community, or experience.

Paragraphs 4–5: The bigger policy issue
Explain it without jargon.

Paragraph 6: The path forward
What should policymakers understand or consider?

Closing
Return to your opening and leave readers with one memorable idea.

SAMPLE PITCH EMAIL

Subject: Op-ed submission: [SHORT HEADLINE]

Dear [EDITOR NAME],

I'm [NAME/TITLE] with [ORGANIZATION] in [COMMUNITY]. I'd like to submit the attached op-ed about [ISSUE] and how it is affecting [LOCAL BUSINESSES/EVENTS/COMMUNITY].

The piece is approximately [XXX] words and has not been submitted elsewhere.

Thank you for your consideration. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Best regards,
[NAME]

BEFORE YOU HIT SEND

☐ Check the publication's submission rules.
☐ Stay within its word limit.
☐ Avoid jargon and unexplained acronyms.
☐ Use accurate, current statistics.
☐ Make the piece local and personal.
☐ Have someone proofread it.
☐ Include your contact information and short bio.
☐ Follow the outlet's exclusivity rules.

Want to write an op-ed or letter to the editor after election day? The ECA Op-Ed Program can help you make an impact throughout the year.

Download a printable PDF of this resource here.

Sometimes the best way to explain the business events industry is to show it.

A policymaker can hear that events create jobs, support small businesses, and connect buyers and sellers. But walking a show floor makes those ideas tangible. That is why site visits are such an effective advocacy tool.

COULD MY EVENT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY?

A candidate visit could be a good fit if:

• Your event takes place in the candidate's district, state, or city.
• You can show them local employers, workers, exhibitors, or suppliers.
• The event connects clearly to industries or issues they care about.
• You have leaders available who can explain what attendees and exhibitors are doing.
• You can give them something visual and experiential to see.
• You are willing to keep the visit focused and nonpartisan.

WHAT SHOULD YOU SHOW THEM?

Do not try to tour every aisle of a show floor.

Pick three or four moments that tell the story.

For example:

A small-business exhibitor
“This company uses this event to reach customers from across the country.”

A skilled worker or service provider
“This event creates work in logistics, audiovisual production, exhibit construction, or hospitality.”

An innovative product demonstration
“This is where buyers see technology before deciding whether to invest.”

A local economic-impact story
“These attendees are staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, and doing business throughout the community.”

The goal is not a walking brochure. It is to help the visitor understand how the ecosystem works.

PREPARE YOUR PEOPLE

Before the visit, decide who will participate and give everyone a role.

• Someone should welcome the candidate.
• Someone should explain the event.
• Someone should tell a local business story.
• Someone should be prepared to discuss the relevant policy issue.
• And everyone should know the same three or four key messages.

That consistency matters more than trying to cover everything.

KEEP POLICY DISCUSSIONS CONCRETE

Rather than:

Try:

The show floor gives you evidence standing right in front of you.

AFTER THE VISIT

Thank the policymaker and staff.

Send any information they requested.

Share photos, when appropriate.

Keep the relationship going.

A site visit should be the beginning of a relationship, not the end of an event.

READY TO HOST?

The ECA Show Floor Program can provide you with planning assistance, preparation guides, background materials, and follow-up support.

Download a printable PDF of this resource here.