Letter: Virtual town halls are a good start, but not enough

To the editor,

The League of Women Voters of North Dakota commends Rep. Julie Fedorchak for holding virtual town halls. They are an important tool in keeping constituents informed and engaged.

Virtual town halls are a good start, but not enough. Holding virtual versus in-person town halls shouldn’t be an either/or but a “yes, and.” Both should be employed so our representatives can hear directly from North Dakotans about their concerns and to reach a wide audience across the state.

Town halls aren’t just about constituents hearing from their representatives. In-person town halls are an opportunity for elected officials to listen to their constituents, for journalists to learn more about community issues and for communities to gather, engage with each other, and build civic understanding