Why Your Vote is Critical for Health: Empowering Your Voice for a Healthier Future
When we think of voting, we often think about politics, elections, and who will lead our country. But did you know that your vote can have a big impact on your health and the health of your community? Voting isn’t just about choosing leaders—it’s about shaping the policies that affect the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the care we receive when we’re sick.
How Voting Shapes Health
Your vote helps decide who makes the rules about health care, schools, housing, and more. These are called social determinants of health. Social determinants are the things around us—like our jobs, education, and where we live—that impact our health every day. For example, if you live in a place without good hospitals or doctors, it’s harder to stay healthy. If you don’t have access to healthy food, it can affect your health too.
Voting and Public Health
Voting is a way to make sure your voice is heard about things like clean water, safe housing, and mental health services. These are all public health issues that affect us in our daily lives. For instance, in Flint, Michigan, a bad decision by government officials caused lead to get into the water, making people sick. Voting for leaders who prioritize public health can help prevent problems like this.
Addressing Trauma Through Voting
Trauma can happen when people experience something really scary or dangerous, like violence or a natural disaster. For many people, trauma can also happen because they don’t have access to good health care or support. Voting is one way to change this. By voting for leaders who support mental health programs and services, healthy and safe environments, you can help bring healing to your community.
Practical Tips: How to Align Your Vote with Your Health
Sometimes it can be hard to know how to vote for what matters to you. But with a little research, you can find out which leaders support health policies that align with your values.
Here are a few tips:
- Make a list of what’s important to you: Is it access to clean water? Reproductive health? Affordable health care? Mental health services? Gun Safety? Know your core values and beliefs!
- Learn about the candidates: Find out where the candidates stand on these issues. A nonpartisan site like Vote411.org can help you compare candidates.
- Download our FREE Voting Guide: A Voter's Guide to Health
- Vote in every election: Local elections are just as important as national ones. The people you vote for in your town or state can affect the health policies that matter to you.
Voting and Social Determinants of Health
Voting gives us the power to make changes to things that affect our health. These things—like income, education, and housing—are known as social determinants of health. By voting for leaders who care about making these areas better, you can help improve the health of your community.
For example, research shows that people with higher incomes often live longer and healthier lives. By voting for policies that raise the minimum wage or improve job opportunities, you can help create healthier communities. Another example is education. People with better access to education tend to make healthier choices, like eating better and exercising more (A Voter's Guide to Heal…). Voting for policies that improve schools can help make a healthier future for everyone.
Here’s a short video on how social determinants like where we live, education, and income affect our health:
Watch: How Social Determinants Impact Health
Voting Is Empowering
Voting allows you to take control of your future. When you vote, you are making your voice heard and helping to shape the world around you. It’s a way to stand up for yourself and your community. Even if you feel like one vote won’t make a difference, think about this: many elections are decided by just a few votes. Your vote matters!
Voting is also an act of self-care. It’s a way to take care of yourself and the people you love by choosing leaders who will make decisions that support health and wellness. It’s a way to build resilience, not just for yourself, but for your community.
Real-Life Example: Healthy Voting
In 2020, voters in California approved a law that made it easier for everyone to vote by mail. This helped many people vote safely during the pandemic, protecting their health while making their voices heard.
Here’s another video that shows how voting helped protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Call to Action: Your Vote for Health Equity
Your vote is your voice. And when it comes to health, your voice matters more than ever. By voting, you can help shape the policies that affect not just your health, but the health of your family and community. This is especially important for people who have been left out of the system—those who face health disparities and need change the most.
Health is a right, not a privilege. By voting, you are supporting health equity and helping create a world where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy.
Download 'A Voter’s Guide to Health' Now!
Ready to take the next step in using your vote to create a healthier future? Download our free guide, A Voter’s Guide to Health: Empowering Your Voice for a Healthier Future, today! This guide will walk you through how voting can impact health policies, social determinants of health, and trauma recovery. It will also help you create a voting plan that aligns with your health values.
Click here to download the guide: A Voter’s Guide to Health
Together, we can use our votes to build stronger, healthier communities for all.
Final Thoughts
Voting is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference in the world. Whether it’s improving access to health care, creating healthier schools, or making sure your community has clean water, your vote matters. Make a plan to vote in the upcoming election and encourage others to do the same. Together, we can create a healthier, more equitable future for all.
By following these tips and using your voice through voting, you can make a big difference in your health and the health of others. Download our free guide today to learn more about how you can use your vote to support health equity!
P.S. Ready to rise, shine, and make your vote count? Check out our Rise & Resilience: The Empowered Vote Collection and gear up for Election Day in style! Whether you’re all about bold statements or subtle support, we’ve got something to help you rock your vote with confidence. From empowering tees to statement accessories, this collection is designed to help you stand tall and show the world your vote matters. Explore the collection and get inspired here: Rise & Resilience: The Empowered Vote Collection – because together, we can create a future that’s stronger, healthier, and more resilient!
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Social Determinants of Health: Know What Affects Health. Link
This resource provides a comprehensive overview of how social determinants like education, income, and environment affect health outcomes.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). (2019). The Effects of Medicaid Expansion under the ACA: Studies from 2014 to 2019. Link.
This article reviews the impact of Medicaid expansion, showing how it improves access to care and public health outcomes.
American Public Health Association (APHA). (2020). Vote for Health. Link.
This source highlights APHA's Vote for Health campaign which seeks to simplify the voting process for the public, shine a light on the impact voting has on our health, and offers a collection of resources.
Flint Water Study. (2017). Flint Water Crisis: Impacts on Public Health. Link.
A real-life example of how poor policy decisions led to a public health crisis in Flint, Michigan, and the importance of voting for leaders who prioritize public health.
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. (2021). Voting is Public Health Guide. Link.
This guide highlights the connection between civic engagement and public health, emphasizing the critical role voting plays in shaping policies that affect our health.
P.S. Ready to rise, shine, and make your vote count? Check out our Rise & Resilience: The Empowered Vote Collection and gear up for Election Day in style! Whether you’re all about bold statements or subtle support, we’ve got something to help you rock your vote with confidence. From empowering tees to statement accessories, this collection is designed to help you stand tall and show the world your vote matters. Explore the collection and get inspired here: Rise & Resilience: The Empowered Vote Collection – because together, we can create a future that’s stronger, healthier, and more resilient!