Health and Disability

With the November elections looming, many organizations that we wouldn’t normally think of as hubs for engaging voters are playing an important role in ensuring eligible citizens are able to register. Community health centers, trusted spaces for obtaining health care, are among those entering the realm of voter registration. And their work in this area makes perfect sense. Low-income individuals are some of the most frequent clients of community health centers, all too often having been ostracized by other health care providers in their communities because they are uninsured. These health care clinics are well positioned to empower many of their current clientele who come in seeking medical care. Additionally, low-income individuals are disproportionately less likely to  be registered to vote, similarly disempowered from civic engagement because of the belief that the systems in place fail to support their families’ and communities’ needs.

Given this overlap, Nonprofit VOTE has long focused on advising community health centers as they integrate voter registration into their primary goals and responsibilities. With many health centers focused on greater community engagement, Nonprofit VOTE aims to help them recognize voter registration as a tool for empowering low-income consumers. By increasing the number of registered voters, communities can better advocate for their elected officials to respond to their needs—be it changes at the statewide or local level. With local health clinics facilitating the completion of a voter registration form, consumers are empowered to walk out of a health center with their health issues attended to, as well as the tools to participate in the next election.