The health of our planet and the health of our democracy are inextricably linked. Those most impacted by the climate crisis are also facing the greatest barriers to voting. Achieving meaningful progress on climate change will be more difficult without an equitable democracy that works for everyone.
LCV and our state affiliates fight against blatant attacks on our democracy like election disinformation, violent threats against election workers, restrictive voting laws, and far-right attempts to capture our courts to build a fair and just democracy for all. The future of our climate and our democracy is at stake.
As part of LCV’s Democracy work, LCV has developed a network-wide advocacy program to advance state and local policies protecting and promoting equitable democracy and voting rights. LCV advances pro-voter and pro-democracy policy priorities aimed at closing the racial voter participation gap with our strategic investments in state and local advocacy and legislation.
For far too long, restrictive voting laws and right-wing partisan gerrymandering have distorted our democracy, disproportionately suppressing voters especially and not limited to voters of color and naturalized citizens, voters who use English as a secondary language, youth and elderly voters, voters with disabilities, and voters who live in low-income communities. LCV is fighting at the local, state and federal levels for a country where every voter can participate equitably in our democracy, and where the people’s voices aren’t drowned out by big polluters’ money. A healthy democracy and a healthy environment are inextricably linked, and reforming our democracy means fighting for the power of the overwhelming majority of people in this country who want to see meaningful action on climate change.
Environmental laws are only as strong as the judges who enforce them.
LCV supports pro-environment, pro-democracy judges at every level of the federal and state courts. In addition, we support expanding and rebalancing the United States Supreme Court to include four additional seats for justices who will work for the people, not deep-pocketed polluters and their allies. Our nation’s highest court has been packed by far-right interests waging an unprecedented judicial assault on our environment, our democracy, our equality, and our reproductive rights. Without a deliberate rebalancing, the Supreme Court — with its justices who serve for life — is positioned to continue imposing an extremist agenda for a generation to come.
We can’t have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy. Now it is more important than ever to defend the rule of law and combat election sabotage, disinformation, and blatant voter suppression efforts intended to further exclude the communities who face the most devastation from the climate crisis and environmental injustice. Time and time again, these are communities of color and low-wealth communities.
In addition, we are fighting to keep our elections free and fair by helping fill the national gap of technologically and culturally adept poll workers. Poll workers across the nation play a critical role in safeguarding our elections and ensuring the right to a secure, fair and accessible vote in all communities. From keeping polling places running smoothly to answering voters’ questions to counting ballots, they play critical roles in ensuring every eligible voter is able to register, vote, and feel confident that their vote counted.
Voting rights are under attack by conservative legislators and judges, January 6th conspirators continue to scheme to sabotage our elections, and corporations continue to funnel millions of dollars towards rampant disinformation and proponents of the Big Lie. LCV knows we must fight for the fundamental principle that every vote must be counted.
LCV is fighting for more transparency in our elections. Undisclosed and unlimited secret campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests threaten both our environment and our democracy. They distort our politics, drowning out communities of color and communities with low wealth who are most impacted by the climate crisis and pollution.
“Communities of color, overburdened by health and environmental crises, are the same communities that this country has traditionally and intentionally left out of the democratic process. And the same efforts that have been used for decades to suppress voting — restricting access to absentee voting, limiting early voting, closing polling places in communities of color, preventing online voter registration — are what is putting our election system at particular risk this year.”
Voting Rights Program Director
To have a sustainable climate, voters must be able to freely and fairly choose representatives who prioritize environmental health and safety. Yet, more than 300 restrictive voting bills have been pre-filed or introduced in 45 states so far this year. Help protect voting rights and put an end to anti-voter legislation by telling Congress to pass the recently reintroduced Freedom to Vote Act today.
Personally and professionally diverse federal judges will help protect our environment and our democracy. President Biden’s nominees are historic — they represent all Americans, not just powerful corporations. But right now, the Senate is sitting on dozens of judicial nominations. Tell your senators to confirm these pro-democracy, pro-environment judges without delay.
The extremist Supreme Court issued one of the most environmentally devastating decisions in decades through West Virginia v. EPA. Protections for our environment, our reproductive rights, our equality, and our democracy are only as strong as the judges who uphold them. It’s past time to expand the Supreme Court and appoint new justices who will work for the people, not deep-pocketed polluters and their far-right allies.
We can’t have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy, and we can’t have a healthy democracy without protecting our right to vote. Passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would help return power to the people, and the overwhelming majority of people in this country want to see meaningful action on climate and clean energy.
This month, we explore the implications of recent SCOTUS decisions, celebrate state climate victories, and take action to protect clean water and federal clean energy investments.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, we take a look at the long history of Black people's fight for the rights of full citizenship, including breaking down barriers to voting. The urgency of this fight continues in the face of recent renewed efforts to limit voting access.
We’re holding electeds accountable for their anti-environment votes, advocating for expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court, securing funds for zero-emission school buses, pushing for regulation of power plants, and protecting and expanding voting rights across the country.
©2023 League of Conservation Voters
