It’s Super Tuesday – a day when voters in 15 states and one U.S. territory go to the polls for the presidential primary election. I’ve written in the past about the importance of exercising your right to vote,
voting your values, and highlighted some of the non-partisan “get out the vote” organizations.
This time I want to address the intersection of voting and healthcare, but not from a policy perspective. You can probably guess my views on key policies. But rather from an empowering everyone to vote perspective. Whether you vote in the primary or not, much is at stake in the November general election.
Let me start with a very progressive organization, A Healthier Democracy, that I learned about last year when their CEO, Dr. Alister Martin, spoke at the annual NEHIMSS Chapter Conference. According to their website:
A Healthier Democracy builds platforms for collaboration and community organizing at the intersection of health and civic engagement to maximize collective impact on pressing challenges.
They are home to five high-impact national initiatives. There are two initiatives involving voting that I want to highlight – Vot-ER and Patient Voting:
Vot-ER – is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to integrate civic engagement into healthcare. According to their website:
“Vot-ER develops nonpartisan civic engagement tools and programs for every corner of the healthcare system—from private practitioners to medical schools to hospitals. Our work is driven by a community of health care professionals, organizers, clinical students, and technologists united by a common vision: healthy communities powered by inclusive democracy. Together, we’ve expanded Vot-ER programs into over 500 hospitals and clinics and helped tens of thousands of Americans register and prepare to vote.
Research shows that our communities are healthier when more voters can participate in the democratic process. States with more inclusive voting policies and higher civic participation rates have better health outcomes.”
They have several programs to provide health professionals and institutions with the tools, training, and community needed to effectively promote civic engagement – Vot-ER Badges, Civic Health Month, Community Civic Engagement Program, Healthy Democracy Campaign, and Civic Health Fellowship.
Patient Voting – is a non-partisan organization aiming to increase voter turnout among registered voters who are unexpectedly hospitalized in the days and weeks prior to elections. According to their website:
“In most states, patients are able to vote from their hospital bed through Emergency Absentee Ballots. We are creating a nation-wide network of healthcare workers and non-medical individuals dedicated to making sure this happens if patients (and sometimes even their loved ones are interested), and making this process as easy as possible so that patients can focus on their health and recovery.”
If you work in healthcare, I urge you to check out these initiatives. Find out if your employer is already engaged with them, and if not, learn more and take the lead to introduce them at your organization. Our future is at stake in the coming elections. Let’s do what we can to ensure every eligible voter is able to vote.
Resources and Related Posts:
Time to exercise your right to vote