Stay Informed

Did you know that the health sector—one of the largest U.S. workforces— is less likely to vote than the general population? Whether voting early, by mail, or in person, voting is now recognized as a public health priority.  The Illinois Public Health Association is a proud organizational champion of the Thrive Through Civic Health: We Will Vote initiative led by Civic Health Alliance, Healthy Democracy, Healthy People, and Vot-ER. The initiative is designed to improve population health by strengthening civic and voter participation across the health sector, including with our colleagues, organizations, and the communities we serve.

The evidence-based connections between voting and the health of individuals, communities, and the legal powers of governmental institutions and private organizations to take actions that impact our health are among the important reasons IPHA supports the efforts of Healthy Democracy Health People. The Health & Democracy Index shows that states with more inclusive voting policies and greater levels of civic participation are healthier. Conversely, states that make voting more difficult and have lower levels of voter participation also have worse public health outcomes. The barriers to health and voting can become a self-reinforcing feedback loop because many of them are the same. A few examples include structural inequities related to broadband and language access, as well as transportation. Increasing civic participation is thus an important—but underutilized—public health and public health law strategy to improve public health authority, its uses, and, as a result, the public’s health.

As public health professionals, we seek to make the places we live, learn, work, play, and worship better for everyone. Increasing voter participation is yet another way we can do our work. 

We encourage you to make every effort possible to take the time to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. 

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS

Helpful Links      

• Voting in Your State – Provided by National Association of Secretaries of State - Provides official links to your state election website on topics such as voter registration, polling place locator, absentee and early voting, voter ID and contacts to local election offices.     

• Election Protection and Voting in Your State - Provided by the national election protection coalition the election protection information for Illinois can be found here.  The election protection hotline is a great resource for anyone who has voting questions or experiences issues at the polls. You can look at graphics and more information at 866ourvote.org. Assistance from the hotline is available in multiple languages.

• Illinois State Board of Elections – Election Day Information and reporting mis/disinformation.