Called to Climate Change and Central College student Tiffany Van Gilst takes the time to get her form for an absentee ballot.
By Tiffany Van Gilst
With all that is happening today, Iowans need to vote more than ever in the General Election. In the past Primary Election this year, the Secretary of State in Iowa sent out absentee ballot requests to all registered voters and for the general election that is not possible due to a new state law (Ban on secretary of state mailing absentee ballot requests passes Iowa Senate). All ballots sent before July 6th or 120 days before the general election in November have to be disregarded. I ask you as Iowans of faith to fill out the absentee ballot request form to exercise your Constitutional rights and to project your voice on very important issues including climate action.
As a young voter, I am calling on all young voters, your voice matters! If you aren’t registered to vote, please register to vote today! You are not only the largest voting group now, you are also most open to change. Changes do not have to include problems that deal with just an individual. For example, look at the climate change crisis currently happening. If we as Iowans do not do anything during this next election, the prediction is temperatures will continue to rise, growing seasons will lengthen, precipitation patterns will change, glaciers will melt, and flooding will begin according to NASA. Young or not, people of faith should vote for candidates who have a plan to end climate change.
Why is it important to vote absentee instead of going to the polls yourself? Well, it is actually very important today. Not only will you be in the comforts of your own home, you will also be practicing physical distancing (something that is very important to do right now). When you vote at home, you will also have access to information that might help you make your decision on which candidate to vote for. You won’t have to wait around in long lines spaced out six-feet apart. As an added bonus you won’t have to wear a mask at home!
To register for an absentee ballot you will need to fill out the Absentee Ballot Form. You will need your driver’s license number or voter ID pin, the address you want the ballot to be sent to, the election date (11/03/2020), and what political party you are registered with. You will need to send this to your county auditor. If you are so called to, I also ask you as a person of faith to join me in signing #FaithClimateJusticeVoter pledge. It is committed to ending structures of oppression, ending environmental injustices, and tackling climate change.
With all the events happening today including the Coronavirus pandemic, racial injustices, and the climate crisis, people of faith need to vote in the General Election now more than ever. I ask you to do your research on each individual candidate and vote for who you find best fit to tackle these issues and lead us to a better future. Together, we can make a change!
Tiffany Van Gilst is an Iowa Interfaith Power & Light Called to Climate Change student from Pella, Iowa and attends Central College where she is majoring in Environmental Studies.