Public comment submission form
A public comment submission form is how government agencies and civic bodies officially accept written input on proposed policies, projects, or decisions. This form creates a record — comments are often part of the public file and influence final decisions. It captures not only the comment text but also whether someone wants to speak at a public hearing, and their affiliation so decision-makers understand whose interests are represented.
The form beside this text is live. Fill it in and submit it — it validates exactly as it would for a real respondent, and saves nothing.
A proposal dropdown or text field keeps comments organized by topic
When 100 comments arrive, sorting by which proposal each one addresses is essential.
An optional "I will speak at the hearing" radio lets organizers plan for speakers in advance
You can reach out to speakers beforehand with logistics instead of discovering speakers at the event.
No card required.
Public Comment Submission
Live previewHow to build this form
6 steps in the editor. Nothing here needs a paid plan.
- Add a text field for the commenter's name.
- Add an email field for official correspondence.
- Add a text field for affiliation or address; mark optional since some commenters may not identify with any group.
- Add a text field for the proposal or item they're commenting on; use this to help sort responses by topic.
- Add a textarea for the comment itself.
- Add a radio button for whether they intend to speak at a public hearing (yes, no, undecided); mark optional.
Fields in this form
6 fields, using 4 of the 19 field types available.
| Question | Field type | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Short text | Yes |
| Email address | Yes | |
| Affiliation or address (optional) | Short text | Optional |
| Proposal or item this comment is about | Short text | Yes |
| Your comment | Long text | Yes |
| Will you speak at the public hearing? | Radio buttons | Optional |
What goes wrong with this form
Specific to a public comment submission form, not general advice about forms.
Not warning commenters that their submission may be public record
A commenter who assumes confidentiality may be shocked to see their comment published online. A clear notice prevents surprises.
Requiring an affiliation when many individuals comment as private citizens
Make affiliation optional. Someone can be a resident or constituent without a formal title.
Asking what decision the comment will influence or when the decision is made
That is not the form's job. The public record records the comment; the decision-makers decide. Keep the form focused on capture, not reassurance.
Questions about this form
Are comments submitted this way part of the public record?
That depends on your jurisdiction and agency policy. Many public records laws require comment forms to be retained and may be subject to public disclosure. Include a clear notice in your form instructions that states whether comments will be public, confidential, or available upon request.
What about anonymity?
This form does not guarantee anonymity. If someone wants to submit a truly anonymous comment, you must note in your instructions that they can omit their name (or use a pseudonym), but you cannot guarantee it stays anonymous if subject to a public records request.
How do I handle comments in languages other than English?
The form itself has no language detection. If your community is multilingual, consider offering a link to submit in other languages, or note in the form header that you can accept comments in multiple languages and will translate them as part of your process.