Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and getting ready does not have to feel overwhelming, especially when you consider the power for good it carries. Voting is one of the most direct ways to help shape the laws, policies, and decisions by public officials that determine how animals are protected in our communities and across the country. Whether you vote early, by mail or at the polls on Election Day, a few simple steps can help everything go smoothly. Taking a little time now can prevent last-minute surprises and help you feel confident when it is time to cast your ballot.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

We recently called out the Trump administration’s push expand access to hunting as an insult to animals and the wild spaces that all Americans share.

And in Colorado, we are seeing a similar war on wildlife play out with Amendment 83, which is on the ballot for voters to consider in November. The amendment seeks to enshrine a “right to hunt and fish” in the state’s constitution.

Candidates for federal office are out on the campaign trail for the home stretch of the 2026 election season. Now, more than ever, we’re asking animal advocates to raise their voices for animals who cannot engage in the civic process themselves. Here are six questions to ask candidates running for U.S. House and Senate when you see them out in your communities.

Our movement understands the importance of stopping cruelty at the source by passing and enforcing humane laws at the local, state, and federal levels. That said, it is just as important to remember that we cannot achieve such goals without showing up and giving our all to the cause every election. When we elect pro-animal candidates, they become pro-animal lawmakers who champion pro-animal legislation.

In Oklahoma, cockfighting’s corrupting influence was conspicuously evident in this election cycle. It featured not one but two state office seekers who were proudly soft on this bloodiest of blood sports, which is illegal under federal law and state laws throughout the nation.

It’s comforting to know that good judgment prevailed, while these two candidates did not.