Online chats time well-spent for several lawmakers

Online town hall forums greatly increase the likelihood that constituents will vote for members of Congress, with many voters shifting their position on an issue closer to the lawmaker's, according to a new study released Monday. The study was conducted by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a nonprofit Internet advocacy group. It facilitated and monitored 20 online town hall meetings with 13 lawmakers discussing topics like immigration and detainee policy with 15 to 20 constituents at a time. Overall, participants reported a 15 percent increase in approval of their member after the 30-minute online sessions than they had held previously. "There were also similar increases in trust and perceptions of personal qualities — such as whether they were compassionate, hardworking, accessible, etc. — of the member," said the study.