Healhy Democracy Healthy PeopleDemocracy makes our communities more inclusive and healthier. Our votes affect health policy, clean air, housing, transit and funding for hospitals. Voting also helps people secure a seat at the table and feel more included within their communities.
When we’re healthier, we’re more likely to vote. And communities that vote experience better health.
Our new analysis compares 12 health indicators to how accessible voting is in each of the 50 states. States with more inclusive voting policies and greater levels of civic participation are healthier. Explore the Index. →
August 23, 2024: Jeanne Ayers and Gnora Mahs of Healthy Democracy Healthy People, and Anthony Iton of UC Berkeley School of Public Health published a commentary in Health Affairs’ Forefront: Voting Is Critical To The Pursuit Of Health Equity. Read the full post here.
August 15, 2024: Join the Healthy Democracy Healthy People Minnesota Coalition at a hybrid event from 11am-1pm CT to launch the We Will Vote Minnesota initiative. The event will feature speakers including Secretary of State Steve Simon, Sarah Caflisch of Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota, Catherine Harrison from Minnesota Public Health Association, and more leading health professionals!
February 8th, 2024: Healthy Democracy Healthy People launched the Thrive Through Civic Health: We Will Vote Initiative in partnership with Vot-ER and Civic Health Alliance at a webinar hosted by the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine. Find out more and join the initiative today!
November 14, 2023: Healthy Democracy Healthy People submitted a public comment in response to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's "Solicitation of Written Comments on Healthy People 2030 Objectives" urging ODPHP to provide evidence-based resources to increase voter participation. You can read the HDHP comment here.
October, 2023: Healthy Democracy Healthy People partnered with Vitalyst Health Foundation to publish a SPARK Report "Strengthening Civic Health in Arizona: The Intersection of Civic Engagement and Health." You can read the report here.
August, 2023: Join Healthy Democracy Healthy People, APHA, County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, NPHL, Vot-ER, and the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement for two Civic Health Month Virtual Sessions that will explore effective ways public health agencies and leaders are promoting a healthier inclusive democracy and a historical and political context for American democracy and voting policy.
June 20, 2023: Jeanne Ayers, executive director of Healthy Democracy Healthy People, and Aliya Bhatia, executive director of Vot-ER, joined hosts, Ericka Burroughs-Girardi and Beth Silver, for @County Health Rankings and Roadmaps’ new podcast, In Solidarity, for a conversation on the connections between civic health and thriving people and places. Listen to all four episodes.