General
Is voter engagement in clinical settings legal?
Yes, as long as voter engagement is nonpartisan. Offices that provide public assistance, including MediCal, are considered voter registration agencies per the National Voter Registration Act (1993).
What if people ask me questions about voting that I don’t know the answer to?
Please refer them to the VOICE Project website, which families and patients may access via QR codes on the voter info card and AVS. It has comprehensive voter registration and voter education materials.
How do I approach voting with immigrant, mixed-status, or undocumented families?
Emphasize that their voice and perspective are important. While non-US citizens may not vote, there are other ways that they can be civically-engaged. Civic engagement involves volunteering, registering and reminding eligible friends and family to vote, etc. High school students 16yo+ with citizenship or green cards can work polls, with financial bonus if bilingual.
Furthermore, youth in mixed-status households are critical voices to amplify in our voting electorate! Learn more here!
Engaging Young Voters
When do I bring up voting?
We recommend integrating simple questions about voting like, “Are you planning to vote?” or “Are you registered to vote?” into your routine psychosocial screens (i.e. HEADSS Assessment) for adolescents starting at ages 15-16 years old.
Consider adding information about voting to your anticipatory guidance for all patients and family members.
What if they ask me who to vote for?
Reflect the question back to them! Challenge them to use their growing critical thinking skills to make decisions in line with their perspective and values.
But there are already so many things to ask about!
Use your clinical judgement!
What are common mistakes younger voters make?
Lateness and mismatched signatures.
The VOICE Project team is actively working on this page! Have a suggestion for resources we should add? Please reach out to us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!