While many lawmakers found themselves facing rambunctious crowds at their townhall meetings this August, members may be relieved to learn there is an alternative that their constituents may like just as much -- an online town hall meeting.
According to a report released today by the Congressional Management Foundation, constituents love online townhall meetings and the lawmakers like them too.
"Conducting online meetings with constituents offer members of Congress a flexible tool for communication in addition to the traditional in-person meetings, tele-townhalls and newsletters," said Beverly Bell, executive director of the Congressional Management Foundation in a statement. "Our research shows that people like hearing from - and feeling heard by - their representatives in all formats, including online."
The foundation conducted 21 online townhall meetings between 2006 and 2008 as part of a project to determine how to use the Internet to facilitate better communications between the Hill and the public. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation and involved 12 House members and one senator.
After each townhall session, the foundation found that constituents had a more favorable opinion of their representative or senator and both the lawmaker and constituents had a better understanding of the subject areas discussed during the online discussion.
Lawmakers "experienced an average net approval rating jump of 18 points," the report found. The constituents involved in the meetings said they were also more likely to vote and vote for the lawmaker and 96 percent said they would like to participate in an online townhall meeting again.
"This report helps fill in the void on how the Internet can transform the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents," said David Lazar, associate professor of political science at Northeastern University.
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