This blog was written by Jennifer Rennicks, former Senior Director of Policy & Communications at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Guest Blog | April 23, 2018 | Elections, Energy PolicyWhat’s the connection between the upcoming primary elections and a climate-resilient, clean energy economy? To have climate-friendly and clean-energy policies we need climate-friendly and clean-energy supporting leaders. Primary elections begin across the Southeast next month, so the opportunities to support clean-energy champions start now!
From May 8th when North Carolinians go to the polls until August 28th when Sunshine State voters do, Southerners will have the chance to cast primary ballots on local, state, and federal races as well as constitutional amendments and ballot measures. Do you know the date of your state’s primary? Are you registered to vote at your current address? Check the list and the links below:
- North Carolina: May 8 (check voter registration records here)
- Georgia: May 22 (check voter registration records here)
- Alabama: June 5 (check voter registration records here)
- South Carolina: June 12 (check voter registration records here)
- Tennessee: August 2 (check voter registration records here)
- Florida: August 28 (check voter registration records here – you can register to vote online and request a vote-by-mail ballot here!)
Once you’re clear on dates and registration status, there are hundreds of online and in-print resources and scorecards you can consult to help you determine whether a candidate shares your positions and opinions on a given issue – including the resources listed below that focus on environmental and clean energy policies and programs:
- Conservation Alabama website
- Florida Conservation Voters website and briefing books
- Georgia Conservation Voters website and scorecards
- North Carolina League of Conservation Voters website and scorecards
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina website and scorecards
- Tennessee Conservation Voters website and scorecards
- (national) League of Conservation Voters website, scorecards, endorsements
- (national) League of Women Voters, specifically environmental platforms/issue tracking
- (national) Issue Voter website, issue indexes
In the fall, once the field of candidates has narrowed a bit, SACE will research and begin to publish more blogs in this series of “Where the 2018 Candidates Stand On Energy” as we did in 2016 and in 2012 to compare and contrast the energy and environmental positions of some of the leading candidates in high profile races around our region. Candidates profiled in this year’s blog series may include those running for Governor and U.S. Senator in Florida, for Public Service Commission in Georgia, for Governor in South Carolina, and for Governor and U.S. Senator in Tennessee. Stay tuned for more posts in this series to come!