This election season, join us to support the lottery-backed environment fund
Vote YES this November to protect our great outdoors, natural areas, wildlife habitat, lakes and rivers across Minnesota. (Photo by Chris Thayer)
Over 30 years ago, 77% of Minnesotans voted in favor of using a portion of Minnesota State Lottery proceeds to fund conservation activities. Since then, over $1 billion has been invested to help restore and protect our water, land and wildlife.
Thousands of projects have been funded in communities across the entire state. This includes dozens of projects at beloved FMR restoration and volunteer sites, not to mention support for clean-water crops and an invasive carp deterrent. (More on these in next month's Mississippi Messages!)
FMR has long advocated for protecting this critical funding. Set to expire in 2025, the fund is up for renewal. Voters will decide this November whether to rededicate it to Minnesota's natural resources.
In addition to continuing the investment of lottery funds into the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund, the 2024 renewal will create a new community grants program supported by the fund. This community grants program will create greater equity by ensuring BIPOC-led organizations and smaller rural communities have greater access to funding to address local environmental issues.
We hope you will join us once again to mobilize Minnesotans from every part of the state and across the political spectrum to vote yes and renew the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. Here's how you can help.
Remind friends and family to check the box on Election Day
Regardless of our political stripes — blue, red, purple, green and everything in between — we can all encourage Minnesotan voters to check the box for the environment in November.
Voters have approved or renewed this amendment twice before, but we still need to ensure that this important ballot question isn't overlooked. If a voter ticks through the major offices but skips the referendum question on the trust fund, this counts as a "No" vote.
Consider sharing this YouTube video or a social media post from Minnesota Great Outdoors (Insta, X/Twitter, Facebook).
Endorse the cause
Organizations and clubs of all kinds — including businesses, religious groups and civic associations — are invited and welcome to become official supporters. Sign on and you'll receive optional materials to share with your followers to encourage yes votes — no other commitments required.
See the current list, join FMR and over 100+ endorsers and support the effort at MNGreatOutdoors.
Need more information on voting?
Not 100% sure if you're registered to vote in Minnesota? Use this tool on the secretary of state's website to check. If it says you're registered, you're good to go. If not, you can register to vote online until Oct. 18. Or you can register on Election Day as long as you bring something to verify your address and identity.
You can also vote early by mail or in person if you may be unable to vote on Election Day (or just want to skip the line).
As the election approaches, FMR will note the dates on our event calendar, share reminders on social and at our events. Sign up for Mississippi Messages or like us at FriendsMissRiv on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram if you'd like to reshare relevant messages this fall.
Become a River Guardian
Sign up and we'll email you when important river issues arise. We make it quick and easy to contact decision-makers. River Guardians are also invited to special social hours and other events about legislative and metro river corridor issues.