5 Steps to Vote for the Ocean
Less than a month from now is one of the most important presidential elections–if you’re an ocean lover.
The current administration tried to open up new oil and gas leases across all our coasts. The administration has reversed environmental protections and left the Paris Climate Agreement. These are all actions that directly harm our ocean.
It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself Republican, Democrat or Independent, the fact is that there are some candidates that will protect the ocean and others who will help destroy it. And as an ocean lover, it is your right (if you live the US) to put representatives in office that will protect what you love. Follow these 5 steps to ensure you vote for the ocean.
Do Your Homework
To be an informed voter you need to do your homework. Relying on TV ads and your Facebook feed is a terrible strategy. Both are usually rooted in fear and twisting the truth.
First, find your candidates. If you live in area that mails out sample ballots early, awesome! Open it up and start googling. Looking at the national level, if your current representative is seeking reelection, check out his/her environmental voting record. Organizations like the League of Conservation Voters have a scorecard that rates representatives on their votes.
On the local level, check your candidate’s campaign website. If they mention their plan to protect the environment, great! If they talk about more oil and gas, not so great. If they don’t mention anything either way, they’re most likely not passionate about the environment and won’t make it a priority to protect it.
If you’re still not sure, send the candidate an email or call the number on their campaign website and ask where they stand on the environment. It can feel intimidating but if they want your vote, they should answer your questions. You can say something as simple as “Hi. My name is ___________ and I live in the district you’re running in. I would like to know what you’re going to do to help protect our ocean and environment.”
Talk to Your Family & Friends
Once you’ve figured out where your candidates stand with protecting the ocean, talk to your friends and family. I know, I know. Politics is a hot-button issue but honestly, who doesn’t want a pristine beach? Who wants to walk along a plastic covered beach? Who wants to swim through an oil slick? Who wants to dive to see deserted bleached coral reefs? No one. Despite differing politics, I’m sure you and your family can agree that a clean and pristine beach is better than a trashed and destroyed one.
Talking to your friends and family can help teach them a few things about their candidates. It can push them to do their own homework or even convince them to vote for the ocean.
Understand How Voting Works
Just like everything else this year, voting is going to be a little different. There will be social distancing and if your state didn’t normally offer mail-in ballots, they might do so this year.
The best way to make sure your vote counts is to understand how voting will work this year in your district. Vote.org has information for every state on how to vote.
Make a Plan
Once you understand how to vote in your area. Make a plan. Do you plan to mail in your ballot? Do you plan to go to the polls? If so, find out what time they open and make a plan for if it takes longer than usual.
Whatever your decision, walk through the process. If you’re voting at the polls, plan to bring some water and a snack–just in case.
VOTE!
Last of all, VOTE! Don’t do the homework and look everything up, just to skip out on the actual day. If you’re sending in your ballot, make sure you sign your ballot and drop it off to the post office a few days before November 3rd, so it gets post-marked in time.
Finally, in some states it is illegal to take a picture of your ballot…so no selfies in the poll booth!
What do you think? Can you vote for the ocean this election?
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