Mobilizing Climate ‘Super-Voters’ in Philadelphia: The Environmental Voter Project’s Initiative
Volunteers in Philadelphia are working with the Environmental Voter Project to convert climate-conscious individuals into active voters. By focusing on those who care about environmental issues but rarely vote, the project aims to boost turnout in the upcoming 2024 election. Utilizing data-driven strategies, they seek to engage diverse demographics, emphasizing peer pressure to motivate voter participation without discussing candidate positions or climate policies directly.
In Philadelphia, volunteers associated with the Environmental Voter Project are working diligently to transform individuals into climate ‘super-voters.’ These dedicated canvassers focus on engaging people who exhibit a passion for environmental issues but who do not consistently participate in elections. Hilary Naiberk, a volunteer and resident of South Philadelphia, emphasized their mission, stating, “Today we’re going to be talking to registered voters who are … unlikely to vote in this upcoming election, about getting out to vote.” As Pennsylvania gears up for a critical 2024 presidential election where the results could be decided by a narrow margin, the Environmental Voter Project aims to mobilize voters who prioritize climate action. Nathaniel Stinnett, the founder of the organization, articulated their strategy, suggesting that they would rather encourage individuals who already value climate issues to vote rather than attempting to change the minds of those indifferent to the subject. “Politicians will only lead on climate when voters force them to,” he stated. To identify potential voters, the organization utilizes demographic data and surveys to pinpoint individuals showing a strong concern for environmental issues. They discovered that younger voters as well as older adults (specifically those over the age of 65) are more likely to prioritize climate matters. Notably, Stinnett mentioned that people of color and women rank higher in this demographic focus compared to their white male counterparts. Innovatively, the group engages in nonpartisan canvassing by avoiding any mention of specific candidates or political parties, instead highlighting the importance of participating in elections. They adopt a peer-pressure strategy, noting how many neighbors turned out to vote in the previous election to motivate individuals to commit to voting. This strategy has received praise from public opinion researcher Chris Borick, who claims that even though these individuals care about climate issues, such concern has not translated into voter turnout in the past. Through their canvassing efforts, the Environmental Voter Project aims to increase voter participation significantly, hoping that even a few thousand additional votes might play a crucial role in the close electoral contests in Pennsylvania. During a recent canvassing event, volunteers knocked on 250 doors and successfully engaged 36 potential voters. Hilary Naiberk expressed her commitment to making a difference, particularly for future generations: “I want to be a parent, and thinking about the future of my future children … I want to know that I’ve done what I can.”
The Environmental Voter Project is a national nonprofit organization that aims to mobilize individuals who prioritize climate issues but traditionally do not vote. In politically pivotal places like Pennsylvania, the organization focuses on identifying and encouraging these non-voters to engage in the electoral process, emphasizing that accountability from constituents can drive political action on climate change. They employ data-driven targeting methods to locate these potential voters, ultimately hoping to influence electoral outcomes by increasing voter turnout among environmentally focused demographics.
The Environmental Voter Project’s initiative reflects an innovative approach to voter engagement, particularly for those who care deeply about climate change yet fail to translate that concern into electoral participation. By concentrating their efforts on stimulating commitment to vote rather than debating climate policies, they seek to create a groundswell of support that may ultimately impact critical elections. Their strategy not only fosters civic engagement but also highlights the importance of voter mobilization in addressing urgent environmental challenges.
Original Source: whyy.org
