Five Ways to Make Every Vote Count for Wildlife and Us

It's the day after the election and as the votes are tallied—perhaps for days ahead—Americans continue to face increasingly heated rhetoric, political polarization, COVID-19-related anxiety, protests against racism in our society and a growing concern for personal and public safety. The stakes are high and pressure even higher. Much depends on the outcome of the election—the final results we may not know for some time. However, when it comes to election security, Americans can do a few things to take action now. 

"We cannot protect our air, land, water, wildlife, and communities without a healthy democracy," said Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. "Defending wildlife requires we also stand up for democracy. One of the most important actions we must  take for wildlife right now is to speak out loudly but peacefully to make sure every vote counts."    

In the days and weeks ahead, Defenders of Wildlife recommends taking the following five actions to ensure a fair election:

1. Demand all votes are counted: Stand for wildlife by standing up for democracy. Make your voice heard by opposing calls to halt the ballot count or stop accepting mail-in ballots before every lawful vote is counted.
2. Report misinformation: Report misinformation that could create confusion about the legitimacy of mail-in ballots. 
3. Report threats to the legitimacy of the election: Call out actions or statements by candidates that threaten the legitimacy of the election or voters' ability to have their votes counted.
4. Sign petitions: Sign a petition calling for all votes to be counted and that officials uphold the election's integrity.
5. Call and email your state officials: Contact your governor and encourage them to take action to ensure that all lawful votes are counted and to certify state election results in a fair and nonpartisan manner.

If you believe someone is circulating misinformation or threatening the legitimacy of the election, please call the National Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español) or report your experience to local election officials in your state.

It's so important that every vote be counted. At the federal, state and local levels, critical environmental issues will be decided based on this year's election outcomes—not just who wins the White House but also Congress and will determine what laws get passed, how budgets are allocated and what direction key wildlife-related agencies (such as the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will take. 

“Every vote must be counted in a fair and nonpartisan manner," said Clark. "To defend our right to vote and ensure an election outcome based on truth, we need to ensure that every vote in this election is accounted for."