Health Care Providers and Voter Advocacy – Information from Ohio State University Medical Center
The ability to vote is one of the most powerful tools Americans have to improve their social determinants of health, their community and their individual health. But while voting is a right for every U.S. citizen, several factors can limit many citizens’ ability to vote—especially those in vulnerable communities.
As a trusted provider of community health and well-being, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center has a responsibility to participate in voter advocacy. This is especially true today, with COVID-19 adding extra challenges, limiting transportation options and posing risks of virus transmission if large groups gather on Election Day.
We also must help our communities be aware of and participate in the 2020 U.S. Census. Among other benefits for census participants, having our communities accurately represented in the U.S. Census helps direct federal funding to local communities not only for universally used public services like schools and roads, but also for services that improve the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens, such as Medicaid, supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP and WIC) and Medicare part B.
Voting and completing the census are important rights that allow us all to have a voice in shaping the future. I encourage each of you to consider what you can do to help educate those around you and advocate for everyone in our communities to safely do the same:
- Consider having these conversations with your patients, your friends, your family and others in your community to get out the message. To help equip you for these important discussions, we have created Civic Health Talking Points and IHIS Smart Phrases to aid in sharing this information with patients, as well as additional resources, including a promotional poster, complete with QR codes, to distribute as you have these conversations with anyone in your circles.
- Learn about voter advocacy and important election information by watching a short video made by two of our Family and Community Medicine residents.
- Register for the Sept. 24 virtual workshop hosted by the College of Public Health Our Voice Is Our Vote initiative and OSU Votes to learn more about barriers to voting and the link between voting and health.
- Please be sure to vote and participate in the Census yourself.
It is vital that Ohioans be counted and that our voices be heard.