Every voice matters and every vote must be counted

As the nation faces an uncertain future, our message is simple: every voice matters, and every vote should be counted. 

We don’t yet know what kind of administration we will have in the White House over the next four years, but that’s to be expected. The pandemic has made this an unusual election season in which a little extra patience is required as we wait for all votes to be counted. 

Over the past four years, the Trump administration has undermined public participation and shut the public out of key decisions impacting public lands. We cannot allow them to pull a similar trick with this election.  

But this much is certain: the strength of our democracy is more important than any individual candidate. Our work of protecting wild nature for the benefit of all people and confronting and mitigating the effects of the climate crisis depends on it. And anyone who sows doubt about legitimate electoral processes or tries to declare victory before all ballots are counted is simply wrong to do so. 

Over the past four years, the Trump administration has undermined public participation and shut the public out of key decisions impacting public lands. We cannot allow them to pull a similar trick with this election.  

At this fraught moment, we take inspiration from communities already speaking up to peacefully defend our democracy. No matter what happens in the coming days and weeks, we ask that you join us in doing the same and demanding with a unified voice that every vote be counted.