What Is an ‘Empty Chair’ Town Hall?

An ’empty chair’ town hall is a meeting held when elected officials refuse to meet publicly with constituents about their concerns or to hear their criticisms. These meetings are recorded by organizers and attendees, and then the video is given to the elected official and posted online. Empty chair town halls allow constituents to voice concerns when officials look to shut down public engagement and silence criticism. These meetings have become common and necessary as members of Congress have opted out of public meetings with their constituents.

Why Are Empty Chair Town Halls Necessary?

Donald Trump’s second term began with a flurry of executive orders that cut or rolled back spending on money already appropriated by Congress for federal aid programs, while other executive orders cut the federal workforce significantly and removed career civil service employees from vital positions within the federal government. Much of this was done under the auspices of the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE. These actions were unpopular, with 60% of people disapproving of the treatment of federal workers and more than half of those polled believing Elon Musk and DOGE were hurting the country with their actions. People sought answers from their Congressional representatives and senators.

Videos of fiery town hall meetings where constituents confronted representatives in Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska, Wyoming, and other places to voice their disapproval of DOGE went viral. The public attention garnered by these town hall reactions led the Republican National Committee to advise Congressional members not to hold town hall meetings. In response, people began to hold empty chair town hall meetings.

How Do I Hold an Empty Chair Town Hall?

• Contact your elected official’s office and ask for a public town hall.
• If the official refuses, schedule an event and secure a space for it. Spaces might include someone’s backyard, a public library, a school gymnasium, a municipal space available to reserve or rent, or another easily accessible and welcoming space in your community.
• Promote and publicly share information about the event.
• Set up recording and audio equipment where people will be speaking.
• Welcome attendees and ask them to share contact information if they are willing.
• Invite people to tell their stories and ask questions. Let them know that you are recording.
• Share the recording with the elected official’s office and publicly share it online.
• Follow up with attendees, stay engaged with issues that matter to you, and continue to take action in your community.
• Remember your voice: at the polling booth and beyond. Register to vote, send voter registration guides to attendees, and make a plan to vote with this community.