Conservation Depends Upon Strong Democracy, Robust Ballot Access

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal and state policymakers should focus their attention on strengthening ballot access and democratic institutions. The National Wildlife Federation and its 52 state and territorial affiliates have highlighted through a policy resolution that public participation in public policy processes, legislation, and elections are vital to advancing "sound conservation policy that benefits wildlife and their environments."

"History has shown that durable conservation solutions for wildlife, habitat, and people are only possible when the public is engaged with policymakers during and between elections. From the Endangered Species Act to the National Environmental Policy Act to the Clean Water Act, all of the foundational and essential conservation laws were only possible because the public engaged with their leaders through our democratic processes," said Karla Raettig, chief advocacy officer at the National Wildlife Federation. "Lawmakers should set aside efforts that would restrict ballot access for eligible voters like the SAVE America Act and focus instead on shoring up the institutions and funding necessary to recover wildlife, conserve and restore public lands and waters, address the changing climate, and safeguard communities."

"In Kentucky, our work to protect rivers and streams is inseparable from the health of our democracy," said Michael Washburn, executive director of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance. "The laws and policies that safeguard clean water exist because people have been able to participate, consistently and over time, in the decisions that shape their communities. Efforts that make it harder for eligible voters to participate don't just weaken civic life; they narrow the public's ability to care for the places they depend on, that they love, and that they call home. Conservation, at its core, is a democratic act."

"The Conservation Federation of Missouri believes that every American deserves a meaningful voice in the stewardship of our nation's lands, waters, and natural resources. Across the country, a strong majority of voters recognize that clean air, clean water, and healthy soils are essential to our well-being, and that their protection depends on thoughtful, conservation-minded public policy shaped through civic participation," the Conservation Federation of Missouri said. "The conservation of our shared natural heritage - and the outdoor traditions that define so many of our communities - depends on a healthy democracy where free and fair elections reflect the will of the people. When barriers are placed between citizens and the ballot box, we risk weakening not only our democratic institutions, but also the public voice that has long guided the protection of America's natural resources."