The Online Family answers:

Well, it depends on the politician. Your local officials might get less email and therefore read and respond to more emails than a U.S. senator, for example. But most politicians now make it a priority to check the pulse of constituents by taking their email comments and requests seriously. If a politician has a form on his or her web site for people to write in about specific issues, chances are good that emails are reviewed by staff members. However, many activists now use form emails for campaigns, and politicians can't always tell if an email they receive is from a constituent or from an automatically generated computer program. So if you're really passionate about an issue, write a personal letter or email that's from the heart, and make sure to include your full mailing address and phone number.