Getting involved politically is one of the best things you can do for the environment. Why? Because the change we need involves systemic and governmental participation. In the US, midterm elections are coming up. You have about 1 month left to register to vote in time for midterms (depending on state). Voting allows you to have a say in the future you want to see. In midterms, all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and about 1/3 of the Senate seats are being contested. Plus, 36 states will vote for governor. Your representatives are the people who will support and push the bills & initiatives you want to see. In the past 2 years with the Inflation Reduction Act, Fabric Act, NY Fashion Act, and the Garment Worker Protection Act, we’ve seen how important those representatives are in enacting change. When we elect leaders who align with the change we want to see and we are vocal in telling them what we want as their constituents, important bills like the above can be passed! Change starts locally! And voting locally is a part of that. While midterms aren’t as flashy as a presidential election, they are equally important as they change the makeup of Congress. While your one vote may seem like it doesn’t matter, it does! When we become apathetic to politics and don’t participate, we let other people control the narrative. Voting is cool and doing it (even when it feels meaningless or when you feel certain the results won’t be in your favor) sends the message of what you stand for and sets an example to those around you that political participation matters! Not sure if you’re registered? Here’s some steps to follow: - Visit Vote.gov to start your voter registration or check/change your status. - Make a plan for voting day (Nov. 8th). Will you go to the polls? Vote early? Need an absentee ballot? Check your deadlines for whatever your plan is. - Do your research. Look up a sample ballot for your state and district and read up on your candidates. - Make voting fun! Invite your friends into the process of signing up or researching. - And once the election is over, call your reps about the changes you want to see! Let’s make change happen! 💛