Ordinarily, there’s plenty at stake in American elections: the availability and quality of healthcare, how equal and just our society is, the strength of what remains of our social safety nets, how humane our immigration system and foreign policy are, and whether any action will be taken to prevent or mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. The 2020 presidential (and House and Senate) election has raised the stakes. While all of the previously mentioned issues are no less pressing, several factors have changed the game. Perhaps most worryingly, the validity of the electoral process itself is currently being called into question. This is caused both by recent meddling with Post Office funding and procedures–in a year when most voters will prefer to vote by mail—and by Donald Trump’s claims. He has already raised doubts in the election’s results, arguing that mail-in voting is a source of fraud. (It’s not.) As if a possible repeat of the turmoil and fallout of the 2000 election were not worrying enough, the situation is worsened by increasing political unrest and violence. Given that peaceful Black Lives Matter protests have been met with violent, armed counter-protesters, it doesn’t take much to imagine how extremists might react if they feel cheated by the election results. However the election turns out, the threat of violence remains. The ideological clashes we’re seeing are animated by a set of even more concerning conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll, killing thousands of Americans every day. Wealth inequality has reached staggering levels; wages have stagnated for working Americans while the country’s owners continue to accrue wealth unhindered. Student loans and other debt are ruining many young people’s ability to purchase a home, start a family, or even move out of their parents’ homes. In addition to these problems there is the threat of unmitigated climate change. Time is running out before the worst effects of climate change begin to transpire. If we view COVID-19 as a test of whether public officials will be able to step up and use scientifically sound, equitable approaches to tackle the coming problems climate change will bring, then we are in a very dire situation. All of this is at stake this election—not just in the race for the presidency, but every representative and down-ballot official as well. Unless we elect forward-thinking, climate and justice-focused, progressive people into positions of power—representatives who have the best interest of the American people at heart, not just their wealthy donors—the future may be grim. What can you do? In the short term, voting is top priority. Go out and vote (or mail in your vote), and make sure everyone in your family and social circle votes too—especially young people. After the election, there may be serious turmoil. But you can take hope in the fact that the progressive movement is strong, especially the youth movement focused on drawing more attention to climate change, and the Black Lives Matter movement fighting for racial justice. There’s still time left before catastrophe is unavoidable. The majority of Americans want to see action taken to prevent climate change, and to support movements for racial justice. By paying attention, acting politically, and exercising your right to vote, a better future is possible. | 
