Home - Science Votes the Future

Elections happen every year in the U.S., but this year is a big one. In 2022, we will elect 435 representatives, 88 state legislators, 34 senators, 36 governors and many other state and local public offices. Science is a key issue and plays an essential role in society. We want you to use your voice to ensure science is on the ballot in 2022 and in future elections. We have developed:

Talking points for several key science issues for you to share with your candidates and elected officials.
Ideas on how to engage with candidates and your local community.
Tools to help get you to the polls.

Learn

Science is essential to understand and craft solutions for today’s urgent societal challenges. See who and what is on your ballot, know your rights to engage in advocacy, understand why your vote matters, and give your candidates science-based facts to make informed decisions for a better future.

Science Talking Points for Candidates Your Rights Why Your Vote Matters Your Ballot

Science Talking Points for Candidates

Science is essential to keeping our communities healthy and safe, and to building our economy. Talk to your candidates & policymakers about science with our one-pagers on key science policy issue areas.

For decades, our nation has been a leader in scientific advancements that spur the economy, providing economic prosperity and development for its communities. The US has also been a leader in STEM education. Learn more about how science is essential to the economy and keeping a robust STEM workforce.

Natural hazards are a significant cause for loss of life and property in the U.S. Learn more about how science is essential to understanding natural hazards and climate change, and how mitigate their impact and build a more resilient society.

Your Rights

These resources from Climate Science Legal Defense Fund help scientists like you engage with candidates safely and effectively:

Why Your Vote Matters

Many local elections take place every year. Typically, just 1 in 5 voters participate in non-presidential year local elections — meaning your vote at the local level can have an even bigger impact. Examples of critical local issues:
- Local school quality and K-12 education content
- Public safety and policing
- Road infrastructure and public transit
- Clean energy, recycling, and composting options
- City colleges and job training programs

Participating in local elections and the census is critical in determining the outcome of redistricting and federal representation
- Learn more about how the census and state legislators shape federal representation
Local Elected Officials Factsheet provides a general overview of what various local positions include (note that this can vary by location).

Your Ballot

Act

Use your voice to engage with your candidates and community. Follow our monthly action plans for ideas on how to engage and get science on the ballot.

Engage Your Candidates Engage Your Community

Engage Your Candidates

Tweet at your candidates
- Ask candidates about their platform on science issues that matter to you. Be sure to tag them in your tweets, and get your colleagues and friends to tweet at them too- this will help get their attention on this issue
Email your candidates
- Use their website to find their email address. Introduce yourself, your expertise and the issues that matter to you. Use the opportunity to form a relationship with their office.
Call your candidates
- Look up their office number online. Thank them for their time, and clearly explain to them why the issue matters to you and the rest of their potential constituents. Ask what they will do to help.
Request a virtual meeting
- Use their website to request a meeting, To have an impact, prepare a clear message about what science issue they should care about, and how it helps or hurts their potential constituents.
Sign up for virtual town hall
- Town halls are opportunities to ask candidates questions. Write down a question or two before the event so you're ready to ask about the candidate's stance on science. Check The Town Hall Project for events or sign up for candidate emails.

Engage Your Community

Share your science.
- Most Americans cannot name a living scientist. You can change that by talking to your friends and neighbors about what you do and why it’s important to society. Look for opportunities in your community to share your science and raise awareness about the role of science in ensuring your community’s prosperity.
Ask friends and colleagues to pledge to vote.
- Share the pledge with your colleagues, students, and friends to ensure that scientists and STEM students are getting out the vote in 2020.
Write an opinion/editorial (“op-ed”) piece or letter to the editor to demonstrate the pivotal role the Earth and space sciences will play in addressing your community/state/America’s greatest challenges.
- An op-ed allows you to draw attention to an issue in your community that may not have already been covered. A letter to the editor allows you to respond to an article that you’ve just read—either supporting or countering it.

Vote

Your vote matters. Midterm elections typically have a lower voter turnout. In the 2018 election, only 34% of STEM students voted. Pledge to vote in the 2022 Election and get text reminders for your state and national primary. Check your registration status to ensure you’re registered to vote.

Your safety and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is paramount. AGU echoes the CDC's election recommendations, including the use of mail-in and absentee voting where possible.

Check Your Voter Registration Status Register to Vote Vote in Your Primary Vote Absentee Voting Checklist

Check Your Voter Registration Status

Vote in Your Primary

Know Your State's Primary Dates

Look Up Your State’s Primary Process

Understand the Types of Primaries

It's important to be aware of your state’s primary process and keep in mind that your state may have different primaries processes for state and presidential elections.

Open primary: permit any registered voter to cast a vote in a primary, regardless of his or her political affiliation.

Open to unaffiliated voters: only unaffiliated voters can participate in any party primary they choose, but voters who are registered with one party cannot vote in another party’s primary.

Closed primary: only voters registered with the party can vote in its primary.

Partially closed primary: party members may vote only in their party’s primary, and party officials decide whether to also allow unaffiliated voters.

Partially open primary: undeclared voters can participate in either primary but must either publicly declare their ballot choice at the time of the primary, or their ballot selection may be regarded as a form of registration with the corresponding party.

Top-two primary: the top two vote getters in each race, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

Vote Absentee

Voting Checklist