Deb Polun, MA

Senior Director for Policy & Outreach

This week we observe National Voter Registration Day, a day to promote awareness of the importance of voting and to help people ensure they are properly registered to vote. Did you know? - civic engagement is tied to better health!

Health centers across the state have been promoting voter registration and education throughout the summer and will continue this fall. Activities have included training staff members to ask patients if they are registered to vote, keeping registration forms on site and participating in nonpartisan voter education efforts about candidates. This week, a few health centers will be partnering with Health Equity Solutions on voter registration drives on site in their lobbies. In addition to registering new voters, health center and Health Equity Solutions staff will ensure that people who have moved or changed names since registering to vote have filed the appropriate forms - so that when they show up to vote in November, they will be able to exercise that duty.

CHCACT has also been involved in the Protect Our Care CT coalition, helping to educate voters on how to bring health care forward as an issue in local, state and national elections. Feel free to download the #IVote4HealthCare pledge card and other materials, and to share on social media!

I encourage you to make voting a priority for you, your family members, friends, colleagues and patients! Please be sure that you are following guidance geared to nonprofit organizations (this is a great resource). If you are looking for additional assistance on how to encourage civic engagement through your health center, get in touch!

And please remember to vote on November 6th!

Have a great week,

Deb