Town Hall Question Cards

How to Write a Question Card That Gets a Real Answer

At most town halls, moderators collect written cards, sort them by theme and read a selection aloud. That process rewards cards that are short, legible and easy to group. A few habits make a big difference in whether your question is chosen and whether the answer you get is specific rather than a general talking point.

Keep it to one question

A card that bundles three concerns usually gets a reply to the easiest one. Pick the issue you care about most and ask it plainly. If you have more to say, fill out a second card on a different topic so the moderator can place each one where it fits.

Ask for something concrete

Questions that begin with "What would you do about..." invite broad answers. Questions that ask for a commitment, a timeline or a trade-off tend to draw out more detail. For example, instead of asking about housing in general, ask how a proposal would affect renters in your neighbourhood, or what the first step would be in the first year. Reading the platform beforehand helps you refer to a specific position and ask how it would work in practice.

Make it local and personal, briefly

One sentence of context, such as your town, your job or how an issue touches your family, gives the question weight without slowing the moderator down. Avoid names of other people or private details you would not want read aloud to a room.

Write clearly

• Print in block letters with a dark pen.
• Put the topic in a word or two at the top, such as "Transit" or "Schools", to help sorting.
• Stay civil; cards with personal attacks are usually set aside.

After the event

Not every card can be read in the time available. If yours was not reached, note it down and send it through the contact page so it is not lost. You can also check the events listing for the next town hall and bring a refined version of the same question, sharpened by what you heard the first time.