It's critical for our democracy and our environment that we invest now to ensure that people are able to safely vote in the 2020 elections. Tell Congress to do whatever it takes to protect our right to vote »

Friend — In just a few short weeks the Covid-19 pandemic has halted our economy, changed our society, and transformed all of our lives. This pandemic is also creating serious challenges to holding safe, in-person elections — which threatens our ability to make progress on critical public health and climate justice issues this year.

As we saw so clearly during the Wisconsin primary just a few weeks ago, forcing people to line up for hours to vote in-person during a pandemic threatens the health of voters and poll workers, undermines the public confidence in elections, delays results, and suppresses voter participation. As seen by the experience of Black voters in Milwaukee, this voter suppression was especially devastating to communities of color which already face systemic barriers to voting and are now being hit hardest by the pandemic.

To put it simply: No one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote. To protect public health and advance climate justice, we must fight to ensure that people are able to safely vote and make their voices heard.

Congress is negotiating the next Covid-19 relief bill NOW — and there's a real shot at getting funding for safe elections into the package. We're urging them to allocate at least $4 billion to state and local governments to fully fund and administer the 2020 elections safely, accessibly, and securely. We need to get 5,000 messages to our representatives before the end of the day — can you join us now?

Send an urgent message to Congress now: Future Covid-19 relief packages MUST include significant investments to protect our elections. GOAL: 5,000 signatures »

For far too long, Big Polluter influence in our elections and systemic voter suppression — especially efforts that exclude people of color from our democracy — have undermined our government and ability to protect our planet. As communities of color, women, and Indigenous people are disproportionately impacted by environmental challenges, we need to take every step we can to ensure that these communities aren't further silenced in our political process.

To protect the 2020 elections and ensure that ALL communities are able to participate in the political process, Congress must:

• Invest at least $4 billion in states so they can adequately prepare their election systems to operate during a health crisis and ensure every eligible voter has access to the ballot;
• Expand vote by mail and no-excuse absentee voting so that more people can vote without being in person;
• Extend early voting, online and same day registration, and provide protections for polling places and poll workers so those who choose to vote in person can do so safely and securely.

What we do next could decide the fate of our democracy. That's why it's so critical that 5,000 dedicated LCV supporters like you act right now. Will you tell your member of Congress just how important it is to invest in protecting our 2020 elections, before it's too late?

We must ensure that the 2020 elections are as safe, secure, and accessible as possible to protect our communities' right to vote and save our planet »

Thank you for joining the fight.

Elizabeth Jacob
Associate Digital Campaigns
League of Conservation Voters