Jack & Ida Visit the Polls
November 8, 2016
Today is election day!
One of my favorite things to do on election day is to take my kids to the polls to vote with me. Ida’s favorite part is “helping” me touch all of the buttons and watch the screen change (she’s only 1.5 Years old). But Jack, our 5-Year-old, is now to the point where he understands what elections are and that we’re picking leaders for our communities.
Before and after we vote, Mary Virginia and I get to talk to him about who we’re voting for and why. Explaining to a 5-Year-old what’s at stake in an election is an interesting exercise. Try explaining the intricacies of trade agreements, pension funds, economic development, taxes, or any other complex “adult” issue to a 5-Year-old. They don’t get it.
But when we spoke to Jack about the importance of conservation this election day – he got it. Jack knows what it means to have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. He loves hiking through the woods and swimming in the rivers and lakes of South Carolina. And Jack knows that his parents are doing what they can – including voting – to make sure his world stays clean and protected for Years to come.
It is clear what’s at stake for conservation today. We can vote to elect pro-conservation leaders who can work across party lines and fight for the air, land, and water we love in South Carolina. Or we can vote for those who work against conservation and try to strip citizens of their right to protect themselves from illegal pollution.
If you have already voted today or voted absentee – thank you! Thank you for making your voice heard.
If you haven’t voted yet, please stop by your polling place some time today. The polls are open until 7pm, and you can vote as long as you’re in line by then.
There’s so much at stake – clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, expanding access to clean energy, and ensuring the protection of our farms, forests, and special places. Keep this in mind as you cast your ballot today. And, if you need suggestions on who will fight for South Carolina’s natural resources, check out CVSC’s endorsements for state legislative races.
See you at the polls!