Friends,

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that this isn’t the first message you’ve received — or watched or seen or heard — urging you to vote on November 4th. Here’s why you should keep reading:

For the first time in a long time, climate change is a key issue in many of the races that will be decided on Tuesday. Your voice really matters.

Here are two things you can do:

1) Pledge to vote for climate action, and tell your friends to do the same. The climate movement can make a difference in this election — if we turn out in force.

The impacts of climate change get more dramatic by the day, and the influence of the fossil fuel industry continues to warp our ability to see real solutions. But the climate movement is starting to be a force to be reckoned with. Usually we send you emails asking you to join marches, sit ins, trainings, or rallies. We believe those are vital ways of demonstrating and growing power — and we believe that voting is another crucial tool.

2) Help South Dakota’s No KXL coalition swing the Senate.

That’s right: there’s one local race that could have a huge impact nationally — and you have an opportunity to be part of it now, no matter where you live. In the last couple of weeks, we got word from our allies in South Dakota that the race for Senate there is way closer than people think. Rick Weiland has come out strong against the Keystone XL pipeline and in favor of climate action. It turns out his progressive, anti-Keystone message is resonating with voters across the state, and especially with tribal leaders who have played a crucial role in the resistance against KXL.

Right now, there’s a Native-led grassroots coalition called “Lakota Vote” working to turn out record numbers of people through an eleventh-hour grassroots campaign in Lakota Sioux communities. Native American votes could decide the race in South Dakota this year, and a win in South Dakota could swing the Senate against Keystone.

This year’s election will determine the political playing field during a period when our democracy must grapple with one of the most dangerous and complex threats we’ve ever faced. We don’t have much time to act on climate, and these next few years are a precious window. November 4th could determine whether that window opens or closes.

Join me at the ballot box next week (or even better: vote early). And if you can, please donate to Lakota Vote — it could help tip the scales.

Let’s do this,

Sara