Although 2003 marked a huge surge in the adoption of Internet technology by campaigns, the recent results of a survey conducted by FrederickPolls and Voter Consumer Research show U.S. legislatures and their staff are already making use of the internet for communication and research. Intercept interviews were conducted among 87 Legislators and 33 Legislative staff during December 9th through 12th at NCSL's winter conference in Washington, DC. Below is a summary of the findings

1. America's Legislators are wired and use email.
   
   • 96% of Legislators personally use a computer.
   • 97% receive and read email from constituents; 96% receive emails from lobbyists and interest groups.
   • 94% respond to emails.
   
   
   
2. Legislators/Staff use the Internet.
   
   • 96% use a computer-based Legislative tracking system to track bill status (100% of staff; 94% of Legislators).
   • 91% use the Internet to research issues or policy (97% of staff; 88% of Legislators).
   • 85% read state newspapers online (93% of staff; 81% of Legislators).
   
   
   
3. Email is now as preferred a method of constituent contact as "personal" contact.
   
   • 55% prefer email contact from constituents; about the same who prefer an in-person visit (52%) or a phone call (63%) - two choices allowed out of five options.
   • Email is far preferred over "non-personal" contact by letter (29% of fax (2%)).
   
   
   
4. The Internet is a more frequently utilized information source than lobbyists or party leaders.
   
   • 15% say they have turned first to the Internet for information on an unfamiliar issue or policy - 21% among staff.
   • This is a greater reliance on the Internet than on industry lobbyists (9%), policy think tanks (5%), party leadership (2%), the Governor's office (0%), or the news media (0%).
   
   
   

About FrederickPolls
FrederickPolls is owned and operated by pollster Keith Frederick. Frederick has over 25 years experience measuring American public opinion. The firm's areas of expertise include: political campaigns, revenue ballot elections, growth politics, and telecommunications. Find more on FrederickPolls at: frederickpolls.com.