Day 27

There’s a common misconception that a single voice or vote doesn’t count in the big picture. However, with legislative passage and elections frequently decided by one person, one point, or even one fraction of a percentage, every vote counts. 

Your vote is your power to effect change. It’s critically important to vote if you are able, as not everyone can vote, depending on their age, incarceration status, citizenship, or other social barriers. If you are over 18 and live somewhere where you are able to cast a vote, make sure you are registered to do so! If you’re not yet 18, you can still use your voice to make a difference, volunteer, campaign, advocate, and get involved.

Around the world, many countries limit citizen participation. Aside from monarchies and dictatorships, pseudo-democracies (governments with the existence of democratic institutions, but the reality of authoritarian rule) and kleptocracies (corrupt governments that seek personal gain) are far more common than you might think. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Nicaragua, and the Republic of Congo, to name a few, may be given the illusion of choice, but ultimately, citizens are not sufficiently represented in government. Many people around the world do not have the opportunity to use their voice, so use yours if you are able.

Even places where citizens can vote face issues of whether they will vote. In the 2020 United States presidential election, only 66.8% of voting age citizens actually cast a ballot. Baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) continue to be the generation with the highest voter turnout at 76%. College-educated citizens are more likely to vote than those with less educational attainment. White, non-hispanic groups have the highest voter turnout of any racial group. Thus, these groups’ political opinions are repeatedly overrepresented in elections, leading to results that do not accurately reflect the desires of everyone. Not only that, but this older and mostly white demographic is less vulnerable to climate change than the next generation and BIPOC populations. So, when it comes to climate legislation and justice, we need a diverse cross section of voters to exercise their right at the ballot box. 

And there’s good news! The number of Gen Z voters is growing rapidly, with more becoming eligible to vote every year. A study from Tufts University underscores the key role that young voters played in the 2020 US election, with more than half of the voting-eligible population between ages 18 and 29 casting a ballot. So let’s do it again, with even more power! The 2022 midterm elections are key in ensuring the future of the climate movement and a habitable country. 

Low-income, BIPOC, and disabled communities are often intentionally disenfranchised by the government, which makes voting to change the systems that perpetuate this even more critical. State barriers like voter identification laws and purging of voter rolls make voting inaccessible for far too many people across the United States. The federal government is failing to safeguard this right, even as widely confirmed voter suppression tactics increased during the 2020 elections. Mail-in voting was necessary to ensure voter safety during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains necessary, especially for elderly or disabled voters, yet is repeatedly attacked, questioned, and hindered. States are also signing bills into law that would reduce the number of polling locations, create longer waits, deprive voters of water, and target any such actions, especially in BIPOC communities.

In addition to outright voter suppression, major current barriers to voting include:

• • Candidate outreach. Young people, like all demographics, are more likely to vote if contacted directly by a campaign or candidate, yet youth-focused efforts are often lacking.
  • Registration. You can’t vote if you aren’t registered. The process is generally quite simple, yet many young people don’t even know where to begin. Be sure to check your registration in advance of the election. For the full picture and wide-ranging resources, check out Vote Save America and How to Vote in Every State.
  • Apathy. With countless compounding issues and information overload, it makes sense for people to feel overwhelmed. While voting for ‘imperfect’ candidates may be frustrating, it is a critical step toward effecting any change — big or small, local or global, now or future.
  • Money in Politics. While money can enable certain democratic functions and aid campaigns, if not well-regulated, it poses a serious threat. On issues like climate change, one political party may receive significantly more funding from large corporations and industries with vested interests against critical climate action. The large donations that power anti-climate candidate campaigns or sizable expenditures to run ads against the platforms of pro-climate candidates represent the interest of industry, not people.

Just as your voice matters tremendously in federal elections, it is pivotal to vote at all levels of government. Local elections can determine the police budget, community infrastructure, minimum wage, educational resources, sustainability measures, access to healthcare, and more. Your local officials are the ones on the ground who can take meaningful action for you and your community, often to a greater degree or at a swifter pace than a politician sitting on a hill hundreds of miles away. Local elected officials make decisions that directly affect your community, family, surroundings, and livelihood.

We possess and must exercise our political power by voting for the future we want and campaigning on issues that affect us! Our partners — like Acure, Klean Kanteen, and Dr. Bronner’s — all stand behind the principle that everyone, including business, can be a vehicle for change. It’s true, companies wield a great deal of political power, so choose to support those that share your values and use their practices and platforms for good. By casting ballots in elections, voting with your dollar, donating to causes, and using your voice, you can fight for what you believe is right. Be the change!

• $50 gift card from our partner, Acure Organics. Acure sources the highest quality ingredients for your skin. No parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, paraffin, mineral oil or animal testing allowed!
• A (surprise!) book from our Turning Green Book Collection

Greenest