Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. There is no additional cost to you whatsoever.
Earth911 is honoring the 52 years that Earth Day has been inspiring motion with 52 Actions for the Earth. The Earth Day theme this yr is investing in the planet. Each week from Earth Day 2022 to Earth Day 2023, we are going to share an motion you’ll be able to take to spend money on the Earth and make your personal life extra sustainable. We shouldn’t solely act for the Earth on Earth Day, and we shouldn’t solely vote for the president. Local and interim elections are as vital because the “massive” ones as a result of they decide issues like faculties, zoning, tree ordinances, and different points with instant environmental impacts.
This week, you’ll be able to spend money on the Earth by registering to vote.
Action: Register to Vote
Political Power
Individual actions like recycling and driving much less are essential. But a municipal strong waste contract that incentivizes recycling may have extra impression than your private dedication to sorting waste. And with the stroke of a pen, a brand new federal legislation setting larger gas effectivity requirements will lower extra emissions than giving up your automobile. That will not be trigger for despair, as a result of people can affect authorities coverage. Our elected officers might not pay as a lot consideration as they need to to the opinions of their constituents. But Americans have a strong strategy to make politicians hear. We can fireplace them by voting them out of workplace and changing them with somebody whose views match our personal. Voting additional will increase our clout, as a result of elected officials keep track of who votes. A letter or cellphone name from an lively voter is extra highly effective than one from somebody who isn’t even registered.
Registering to Vote
Each state makes its personal voting and election guidelines, together with when and tips on how to register. The grounds are shifting beneath voter registration laws as of late, with some states working to make voting simpler, whereas others are making it tougher. Check together with your state or native election workplace to get essentially the most detailed and up-to-date data for the place you reside. In Oregon, voter registration is computerized and it’s attainable to vote by mail forward of the particular election. Meanwhile, in Texas, polling locations are few and much between and registration is lower off a full month earlier than an election. That’s why it’s vital to seek out out about your state’s registration necessities early. If you wait to register till election day is imminent, you may be too late to vote.
The first step is to seek out out in case you are already registered. If you’re already registered, take the subsequent step and discover the date of your subsequent native election. CNN maintains a nationwide calendar of midterm elections.
If you aren’t registered to vote, 42 states and the District of Columbia permit online voter registration. If your state will not be certainly one of them, you should lookup your state’s election office website for state-wide voting steering. Find your local election office contact information for solutions to questions on polling areas, in-person registration, and different native questions.
