Amidst busy hunting season planning and trips, make sure you find a way to use your voice this election season
By: Suzanne Anglewicz
Fall is here! Many of us are already in the throes of hunting season as it takes up considerable amounts of our time, focus, planning and daydreaming. As hunters and outdoor lovers, we are generally spending our time planning every opportunity to be afield rather than hunched over a ballot on November 5, Election Day!
However, with the many changes to the voting landscape recently, your chance to make your voice heard is no longer limited to one day. Right now is the perfect time to create your voting plan starting with learning who and what is on your ballot, as well as the voting requirements in your state.
With much attention on the 2024 presidential race, it’s imperative to craft a full voting plan from county commissioner to Capitol Hill. There are various political and legislative issues with a critical nexus to hunting, wildlife management and conservation policy that are on the ballot in some form at local, state and federal levels, and you are part of an important voting bloc. Here are a few things to consider when crafting your own voting plan before November 5th.
- Know the voter registration deadlines in your state. In some states, that deadline is weeks before Election Day whereas in some states you can register to vote the day of the election. Be sure to check with your own state’s election board to confirm your voter status.
- 47 states now allow for early voting in which in-person votes can be cast anywhere from 50 days to three days before an election. If you plan to be traveling or in the field on Election Day, be sure to take advantage of early voting in your state as available.
- Absentee voting allows voters to apply for an absentee ballot to be mailed in prior to Election Day. This is especially helpful for those traveling out of state/country during the fall.
- Be sure to confirm the requirements for in-person voting such as ID requirements, the location of your polling place and its hours.
- You can often find a sample ballot on your state’s board of elections/secretary of state page prior to casting your vote. This gives you the opportunity to review the candidates running in your region as well as any ballot initiatives.
- Note on ballot initiatives: Through ballot initiatives, your state constitution and laws can be changed rather than directly via the legislature. While each state’s requirements vary, ballot initiatives can have a significant effect on conservation and hunting policy such as the ones currently on the ballot in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Louisiana and others.
Too often, the hunting and outdoor community is labeled as a “low-propensity” voting segment, also known as eligible voters who have a history of infrequent participation in elections. And we get it – the prairies, woods, and wetlands are calling to us the first week of November.
But our access and ability to pursue our passion for outdoor stewardship and hunting heritage is very often directly tied to government decisions, so now is the time to be informed on how your vote matters.
Our traditions are sacred; we must do more than just embrace the values, we must be engaged as citizens to protect them, and the first step is becoming an informed citizen and casting a vote!
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Advocating for Conservation
It takes good habitat to produce abundant wildlife and opportunities to hunt—but it also takes robust public funding and sound conservation policy. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s dedicated Government Affairs team works in Washington D.C. and state capitols across America to create and secure funding for programs that benefit the uplands, from the rugged backcountry to the neighboring farm’s “back 40.” Thank you to our chapters, volunteers and members for the generous grassroots and Legislative Action Fund (LAF) support that makes this work possible.
To learn more about PF & QF’s policy priorities and ways you can help advocate for conservation, visit this page or email advocacy@pheasantsforever.org.