2024 is a critical year for civic engagement. We know that voting is a foundational social determinant of health and that those hit first and worst by climate change are also usually disenfranchised by multiple structural barriers. As a trusted messenger on health, we can help our patients and colleagues understand the link between their health and civic participation. Political candidates also need to know that the climate crisis is a health crisis that requires urgent and equitable action.
These resources can help you take action on multiple levels — from interactions with your patients and colleagues to those with candidates. Click the icons below or scroll to get started.
Talk to Your Patients
By providing resources on voting and voter registration to your patients — particularly if you serve communities already burdened by environmental inequities — you can support greater civic engagement in communities at the local, state, and federal levels. To learn more about the environmental health burdens in your community as you consider the health threats your patients face, you can use the EPA’s Environmental Justice mapping tool.
Vot-ER Resources
The Consortium is excited to partner with Vot-ER to empower our patients to access their right to vote. Vot-ER develops nonpartisan civic engagement tools and programs for every corner of the healthcare system—from private practitioners to medical schools to hospitals.
Badges
Vot-ER badges are an easy way for health care professionals to integrate civic engagement into their practice. Patients scan the badge’s QR code to access a nonpartisan, self-service voter platform where they can register, request a mail-in ballot, and learn about upcoming elections.
Flyers
Download and print flyers (available in English and Spanish) about the power of our votes and how we can advocate for health at the ballot box. The QR code links to the Vot-ER platform, where voters can check their registration status or request a mail-in ballot.
Conversation Starters
Made in collaboration with voting experts and health care professionals, Vot-ER’s voter scripts (available in English and Spanish) are nonpartisan, research-backed, and appropriate for most clinical settings. Find training videos on how to initiate these conversations here.
In addition to using Vot-ER resources, you can:
- Help your hospitalized patients apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot
- Place RxVote Prescriptions from the Civic Health Alliance (available in English and Spanish) in your units/clinics, hand them out to patients in the waiting room, or distribute them at an upcoming conference
Talk to Your Colleagues and Organizations
Research has shown that eligible physicians and other healthcare professionals are significantly less likely to vote than the general population.
Voting significantly impacts our communities’ health by influencing policies affecting our well-being. As healthcare professionals, we recognize that voting is a crucial social determinant of health, enabling us to address the broader factors influencing patient well-being beyond the confines of the exam room. We can lead by example, encouraging voter engagement among our colleagues to foster a healthier society.
Lead by Example and Encourage Your Colleagues to Vote
Take the We Will Vote Pledge
Join the Thrive Through Civic Health: We Will Vote (WWV) pledge initiative led by the Civic Health Alliance, Healthy Democracy Healthy People, and Vot-ER. Join your colleagues across the health sector to assert: We Will Vote. Pledge to vote in upcoming elections, encourage others to do the same, and support elections through volunteer roles in your community.
Make and Share Your Voting Plan
Vote.org provides a list of everything you need to vote and can help you:
- See what’s on your local ballot
- Check your voter registration
- Register to vote
- Vote by mail
- Get election reminders
- Learn your state’s deadlines/dates/rules for voting
Healthy Democracy Campaign
The Healthy Democracy Campaign (HDC) is a voter registration drive led by students in medical school and other healthcare ed programs. Vot-ER provides each school team with badges, training, customized online resources for voters, and more. Each team will also be paired with a Vot-ER organizer who will support them throughout the campaign.
Enlist Your Organization to Support Civic Engagement
We Will Vote Pledge for Organizations
After taking the WWV pledge yourself, encourage your organization to do the same. By signing on, organizations commit to strengthening our democracy by promoting nonpartisan voter participation across their memberships, employees, and affiliates.
Civic Health Compact
The Civic Health Compact was designed to help provide concrete and actionable steps health care delivery organizations can take to address some of the upstream drivers of health inequities and optimize civic engagement amongst their staff, patients, and communities.
Present About Civic Health and Vot-ER
Help colleagues and leaders at your institution understand the link between health, voting, and the social and structural determinants of health using this presentation from Vot-ER and MSCCH. Plus, introduce them to the benefits of Vot-ER and healthcare-based voter registration.
Talk to Policymakers
We need our leaders to recognize that the climate crisis is a health crisis and to take strong action to achieve equitable and healthy climate solutions.
In the new guide below, we provide five questions that every candidate, regardless of political party, should be asked about their plans to address climate change as a crisis of health and equity.
How to take action and use these questions:
- Candidates participate in many events and forums, which are either sponsored by community-based and political organizations or hosted by their own campaign. Sign up to participate—see if you can send in questions in advance or sign up to ask a question. To find events, you can sign up for candidates’ mailing lists, reach out directly, or use an online resource. If you’re with a 501(c)(3), make sure you first understand the legal limitations of your organization. Bolder Advocacy has a good resource to start with.
- Consider emailing these questions to all candidates from each party running for office (to remain nonpartisan). Ask them to read it or ask if they’d like to discuss it on a call.
- Consider choosing 1-2 questions, re-formatting them as a brief op-ed, and submitting it to a local media outlet. Share the questions with local organizations and ask if they can disseminate.
- When communicating with candidates, consider including your own perspective as a provider or public health professional— how have you seen climate change impact health firsthand?
- Consider hosting your own virtual, nonpartisan candidate forum to learn about the views of many candidates. If a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ensure that you understand the legal guidelines and guidance—here’s a good resource to start with.
- Share these questions with your colleagues and on social media.
Visit your candidates’ website and review their position on climate change. See if these questions can be answered through their stated policies on climate.