Dear John, As part of our ongoing voter mobilization and election information campaign, American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) is providing you with weekly updates on the imminent 2020 election. Strong leadership is needed to ensure a fair, free election, and ASBC strongly supports all business leaders who are encouraging their communities, employees and other stakeholders to get out the vote. This week, we highlight that 350.org is launching a non-partisan GOTV non-partisan campaign to maximized voter participation in the current election on behalf of effective policies to combat the ravages of climate change. The campaign aims to make 350,000 calls in 12 states before the November 3 election deadline to urge climate-concerned voters to participate. Find more information in this video or bilingual toolkit. Climate change in the presidential debate
At the final presidential debate, the candidates indicated their dramatically different outlooks on climate change and how the federal government should deal with this crisis. While President Trump remains skeptical about introducing new regulations that might affect the current economic model, former Vice President Biden suggested that a transition towards cleaner sources of energy is necessary to manage the “existential threat to humanity” posed by rising temperatures. Mr. Biden also vowed to rejoin the Paris Agreement to boost international cooperation on climate change, hold countries accountable for their greenhouse emissions and restore the role and standing of the U.S. in this crucial global effort. Texans lead the national average in early voting, with 5.3 million ballots cast; a number that already exceeds the total number of all Texas votes cast for Trump in 2016, with days to go before Nov. 3. (Voters may vote early in Texas until October 30.) Similarly, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan have already reached 20% of the total turnout from 2016. If you haven’t voted yet, check your state’s deadlines and on your way, remind your employees and other stakeholders to vote, too. Climate change and health care are just two of the policy areas that will be impacted by this election; areas that affect each one of us, especially now. USPS services embattled, especially in swing states
Pandemic-triggered demand for vote-by mail ballots, colliding with management’s restrictions of service, are disproportionately affecting deliveries in battleground states. Businesses nationwide have already been experiencing a substantial decline in USPS services since management’s recent mandated reductions, only some of which have been rolled back. With a significant portion of the electorate planning to vote by mail, it is unclear if USPS will comply with ballot delivery deadlines required by some key swing states. On-time delivery of first-class mail has fallen nearly 8% since January to under 84% in postal districts of 10 battleground states that hold 151 electoral votes. ASBC has taken a strong stance on the urgent need for timely post office services to safeguard fair elections in America. We’ve crafted a sign-on letter to Postmaster General DeJoy and the USPS Board of Governors demanding full restoration of timely service, both for fair voting and for critical business transactions and deliveries that have surged due to the pandemic. Important Dates: - States with voter registration deadlines 10/23-10/27: Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
- Requesting an absentee ballot deadline 10/23-10/27: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin
- States with ongoing in-person absentee voting 10/23 - 10/27: Alabama, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia
- States with ongoing early voting 10/27 - 10/27: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maryland, New York, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3
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