Live the WildKind Mission: Vote for the Outdoors
“To educate and empower families to find their wild.”
At WildKind we live our mission every day - especially on Election Day.
We will never tell you who to vote for, but we will do everything we can to help educate you. We will urge you to know your candidates and their positions in relation to the outdoors, so you can make informed choices.
Why Vote for the Outdoors
If we want to protect the outdoor places where we love to play, we must vote with them in mind. This means on a national, state, and local level. Topics to keep in mind when voting for the outdoors include: protecting public lands, climate change, energy sources, land management, and protecting water sources.
So how do we, as parents, do this in 2020, when we already have our hands and minds full from handling an ever growing number of new challenges, like online schooling, working from home, quarantines, etc.?
We treat voting like we would any other adventure. When we head outside to try something new (and hopefully epic), we make a plan, we research, and then we adventure.
Make a Voting Plan
First, make sure you are registered to vote. (I’ve checked 17 times, not exaggerating.)
Then, check to see what methods of voting are available for you. Can you early vote by mail? Drop off your ballot? Vote absentee? Vote on Election Day? Choose an option that works best for your family and your schedule. There are no wrong answers as long as you vote.
Rockthevote.org has great resources for voting methods, including an interactive map (great for us visual learners). It also has state-specific information on voting methods, deadlines, absentee voting rules, and tons more.
Next, figure out the physical logistics of voting. Important things to ask yourself:
Where do I need to go to vote? (I may or may not have done a test drive to my polling location already because it changed for this election, and I want to avoid nightmares leading up to Election Day that I get lost.)
When will I vote? If you plan to vote on Election Day, consider the work schedules of the other people voting at your location. Do you live in an area where most people work an 8-5 job? If so, try to vote during the work day (but avoid lunch hour).
Do I have transportation squared away or do I need to arrange it?
Will I bring my kids or do I need to arrange coverage for them?
Is my identification current or expired? If you are using your driver’s license, and it is expired, keep in mind that many places require an appointment to renew thanks to COVID, so make sure to set that up right away.
Remember, if voting in person on Election Day, don’t forget to bring a mask, current ID, and your patience.
Be Prepared: Know Your Ballot
It is said that “knowledge is power”, and this could not be more true when it comes to voting for the outdoors in 2020.
I find Ballotpedia to be the most unbiased and thorough place to dig into my ballot. When you enter the site, click on “What’s on your ballot” link on the top of the left navigation menu. The site directs you to enter your address and email. (Email is optional, but I took one for the team and entered mine. Heads up, I’ve received a LOT of emails from them. However, they’ve all been very interesting and informative. And of course, you can unsubscribe at anytime.)
Select the November 3rd election. This will give you access to amendments and questions on your ballot, including summaries, overviews, statements from supporting and opposing elected officials, links to media editorials, and a very thorough background section that highlights how similar issues are handled in other states.
The sample ballot also lists the offices up for election, with details about every candidate running for each. I found the candidate profile especially interesting as it lists key messages of their campaign as well as some pertinent background information. However, there’s a plethora of other information on each candidate available.
Researching Incumbents: Their Votes Speak Volumes
The great thing about researching incumbents is they have already had the chance to show you how they feel about your outdoor playgrounds, you just need to know where to look. As you research, look for how they have voted on issues that affect the environment, public lands, and families. Have they sponsored any legislation that affects our environment, public lands and families? Examples of these on a national level include the Keystone XL & Dakota Access pipelines, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Antiquities Act, the Clean Power Plan, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
GovTrack is a great, unbiased resource for investigating how an incumbent member of Congress has voted. I use it to search for specific members of Congress, as well as specific bills.
Search by Congressperson
GovTrack lists every current member of Congress. It is well organized and an excellent resource for all the visual learners out there. By selecting a congressperson, you have access to a bio, photo, contact information, ideology-leadership chart that compares them to other members in Congress based on the bills they have sponsored/co-sponsored during their tenure, ratings the congressperson has received from advocacy groups, the committees they sit on, the legislation of which they were the primary sponsor, bills sponsored broken down by subject, their voting record with key votes, and finally, number of missed votes over their tenure. If you want to know anything about their voting history, this is the place to go.
Search by Bill
You can search for bills by keyword on GovTrack, but I find it helpful to use the list of subject areas on the right when looking for how my representatives have voted for the outdoors, specifically the subjects of environmental protection and public lands and natural resources. When you select a specific bill, you can read a summary of the bill as well as click the details tab for a breakdown of cosponsors and also how members voted organized by state.
Vote the Outdoors: Outdoor Specific Resources
The following outdoor organizations have created excellent resources in preparation for the 2020 election.
The AAC put together its “Send it to the Polls” campaign to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to register and act as informed voters. Peruse the AAC Summit Register version 002, where, starting on page 13, the Outdoor Advocate’s Voter Guide thoroughly addresses the presidential race as well as congressional races in 19 states in regards to outdoor recreation.
Even if you do not reside in these states, I highly recommend glancing through the guide as the visuals are stunning. I found it very interesting to see inspiring images from states I do not regularly associate with the outdoors, including my home state of Illinois.
The AHS has created a printable 2020 Public Lands Voting Checklist to help you organize your research on how incumbent senators and representatives have voted on outdoor issues. Be sure to click the “learn more” links on this site. They offer a ton of information on public land issues such as climate change, outdoor access for all, and protecting national monuments.
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
OIA has a fantastic 2020 Voters Guide to help you vote the outdoors. It includes information on outdoor industry issues including climate change, public lands and waters, and balanced trade. It highlights the presidential race, and identifies 19 races for seats in Congress, and for governor, where the outcome will have a great effect on the outdoor industry.
Vote the Outdoors on Social Media
If you’re interested in tips and inspiration on how to vote for the outdoors as you scroll through social media, here are some recommendations of people, organizations, and hashtags to follow.
