Sustainability & the Upcoming Election

As we approach November 3rd, it is important to spend some time considering the impacts of the 2020 presidential election on sustainability and environmentalism as a whole. The president we elect this November will dictate whether our country starts to address climate change or continues to ignore this critical issue. It is important to remember that there are many other elected positions and propositions on the ballot which will determine how we address these issues in the next four years.

Register to Vote!

The statewide voter registration deadline is October 19. You can register online or check your registration status at https://registertovote.ca.gov.

If you missed the deadline but still want to vote in the November election, California allows conditional voter registration, which is available from October 20-November 3. If you are eligible to vote, simply visit your county election office, polling place, or vote center and you will be able to cast a conditional vote. Your voter registration status will be verified and your ballot will be counted after you are confirmed as an eligible voter.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 27, and it must be postmarked by November 3 to be counted. Many advocacy groups suggest that you complete and return your absentee ballot as soon as possible, and postmark it no later than October 20 to guarantee that it arrives safely in time to be counted.

Presidential Candidates

Joe Biden - While Biden has fallen short of embracing the Green New Deal, he has a record of believing in science, and the same cannot be said for his opponent. This New York Times article provides a good overview of his progress on this issue.

• Biden recently announced a $2 trillion Climate Plan which would “significantly escalate the use of clean energy in the transportation, electricity and building sectors, part of a suite of sweeping proposals designed to create economic opportunities and strengthen infrastructure while also tackling climate change.”

• In contrast, his original plan called for spending $1.7 trillion over 10 years with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions before 2050.

• The new plan includes actions to achieve an emissions-free power sector by 2035 and upgrade four million buildings over four years to meet the highest standards for energy efficiency.

• It would also establish an Office of Environmental and Climate Justice at the Justice Department and set a goal for disadvantaged communities to receive 40 percent of all clean energy and infrastructure benefits he has proposed.

Donald Trump - President Trump has repeatedly denied the claim that human activity is a major contributor to climate change. He often contradicts the statements of experts in this area, and has repealed dozens of Obama-era regulations aimed at reducing our harmful impact on the environment. This article by Insideclimatenews.org highlights his political stances and policy actions which largely favor polluting industries and downplay the effect of humans on climate change.

While there are several third-party candidates on the ballot, the reality is that American elections function within a two-party system, and any vote for a third party candidate is functionally one less vote that can sway the results of the election.

US Representatives

California has 53 representatives in the US House of Representatives, each representing a particular congressional district. These representatives are up for reelection every two years, which means we vote for them in the Presidential as well as Midterm elections. While these congressional races are often overshadowed by the Presidential election, they have significant effects on local policies that directly impact our communities.

You can enter your address in this tool to identify which congressional district you live in and who your representative is. If you are registered to vote in Davis, you belong to District 3, which is currently represented by Rep. John Garamendi (Dem). It is important to make an informed decision and do research on each candidate’s political record before casting your vote. An easy way to do this is to read articles outlining each candidate’s policy stances and making sure the person you are voting for most closely reflects your values.

State Senators and Assembly Members

California has its own Senate, consisting of 40 representatives which each preside over a specific district. 20 of these representatives are up for reelection this November. You can visit this website to identify which district you belong to and who your representatives are.

The city of Davis is represented by Senator Bill Dodd (Dem), and belongs to District 3. Dodd has a score of 85% from the California League of Conservation Voters. He is being challenged by Carlos Santamaria (Rep). Additionally, we are represented by Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (Dem), and belong to the Fourth Assembly District. Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry maintains a score of 82% and faces Republican challenger Matthew Nelson.

Propositions

While there are no explicitly environment-related ballot propositions this election cycle, it is important to do research on the 12 statewide propositions we will be voting on in November. Most online news sources release voting guides which summarize the issues and provide endorsements for candidates and ballot measures they support.

If all of this information is overwhelming, I highly recommend looking for voting guides from organizations you support which share your political views. Make sure to cross-reference several articles and guides before making your decision, as our lives will be directly impacted by the results of this election for the next four years and beyond.

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