Why Your Vote Matters: The Environment, Climate Change, Fair Labor, & Social Justice

With the 2024 presidential election just days away, we know many people are asking themselves, “does my vote really matter?” In a world where it often feels like corporations and the super-wealthy have the loudest voices, it’s easy to feel powerless. The complexities of the Electoral College don’t help, especially in states where the outcomes feel predetermined. But the Passion Lilie team is here to tell you – your vote matters. The ripple effect of your choices at the ballot box is much larger than you may realize. Voting isn’t just a civic duty, it’s an act of hope, courage, and responsibility. Every vote helps shape policies that will determine the future of our planet, workers’ rights, and social justice. Here’s why your vote matters for these critical causes.

Your Vote Matters for the Environment

There's no denying that our planet is in crisis. This month alone, two hurricanes devastated communities across the southeastern United States – a direct result of rising carbon emissions and warming oceans. From deforestation in the Amazon to the pollution of our oceans with microplastics, the earth is desperate for protection. We can’t afford to wait for someone else to take action.

Our elected officials have the power to set environmental policies that can either protect or harm our planet. When we choose not to vote, we allow decisions about the environment to be made without our voices. This is dangerous because certain administrations can roll back environmental regulations meant to safeguard our air and water. These decisions directly impact the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. Leaders who dismantle these protections accelerate environmental degradation, putting all of us at risk. Voting for candidates who prioritize policies like the Clean Air Act or the Paris Climate Agreement helps elect leaders willing to fight for our environment rather than exploit it for political or financial gain.

Environmental justice is another key issue. Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental hazards. Your vote matters because it helps us elect leaders who will work to close these environmental equity gaps, ensuring that everyone has access to clean air, water, and green spaces.

Voting isn’t just about electing a president; it also affects how laws are enforced and interpreted. Presidents appoint Supreme Court justices who have the authority to shape our laws for generations. With the potential for our next president to replace one or more justices, the stakes are high. One example of why this matters is the recent overturning of the Chevron doctrine, which significantly weakened the authority of federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA plays a critical role in regulating greenhouse emissions and protecting public health. Electing leaders who prioritize environmental oversight ensures that agencies like the EPA can continue to safeguard our planet.

Your Vote Matters to Fight Climate Change

Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and increasingly erratic weather patterns are wreaking havoc around the globe. Climate change is not something for our grandchildren to worry about; it’s here now, and it’s happening faster than many people expected. If we don’t act immediately and aggressively, there might not be a planet for our grandchildren at all. When you vote, you’re choosing whether we tackle this problem head-on or continue business as usual.

It's no secret that fossil fuel industries and large corporations are often both the biggest polluters and the most influential over policy decisions. Your vote matters because it can support candidates who refuse to pander to these industries and instead prioritize renewable energy, climate science, and environmental justice. Many political leaders are funded by the very industries driving climate change, while others push for legislation like the Green New Deal – a comprehensive policy that aims to transform the U.S. economy by reducing emissions and investing in clean energy jobs.

The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. In recent years, we’ve seen wildfires burning through millions of acres across North America, floods devastating towns in Pakistan, and record-breaking heatwaves across Europe and North America. There seems to be an “unprecedented” natural disaster every other week. We don’t have time to waste on leaders who deny or downplay the impacts of climate change. Your vote matters because it holds politicians accountable. Will they embrace renewable energy policies and carbon-neutral goals, or will they prioritize short-term profits at the expense of our long-term survival?

Voting in every election – local, state, and federal – matters because climate policy is enacted on all levels. A city mayor can initiate municipal sustainability projects, and a state governor can pass clean energy legislation. Your vote matters because it could be the difference between living on a climate-resilient planet or one ravaged by uncontrollable disasters.

Your Vote Matters for Human Dignity

Another issue heavily impacted by your vote is the state of labor in our country and beyond. Millions of workers around the world labor in unsafe conditions for unlivable wages. Shockingly, child labor remains a very real problem, even in the United States. This is especially true in industries like fashion, where fast fashion giants continue to profit while workers struggle to survive.

Your vote matters because it can support candidates committed to fair labor laws. Legislation like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets minimum wage standards, regulates overtime pay, and protects against child labor. But there are still gaps – millions of workers, particularly in marginalized communities, remain underpaid and overworked. By voting for candidates who are committed to raising the minimum wage, closing the gender pay gap, and ending exploitative labor practices, we are fighting for economic justice.

Your vote matters to the fight for fair trade. As consumers, we have the power to choose ethically sourced products, but our votes determine whether the government will hold corporations accountable for overseas labor practices. Voting for leaders who support global worker protections helps ensure that the goods we consume don’t come at the expense of someone else’s safety and dignity.

Your Vote Matters for Advancing Social Justice 

Systemic racism, gender inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrant policy are all issues directly influenced by the leaders we elect. When you vote, you have the power to uplift marginalized communities and promote meaningful justice reform. Your vote matters because it can push for policies that regulate equal pay for equal work, protect civil rights, and advance criminal justice reform.  

Low voter turnout often perpetuates inequality and further marginalizes vulnerable communities. However, when people show up to the polls, we elect leaders who are willing to fight for change. Your vote is your voice for the future. Your vote is a declaration that you care about the world we live in and are committed to shaping a more just and sustainable future for all.