Civic Engagement and Voting
The coronavirus pandemic has helped exacerbate existing barriers to voting and election participation, making it more difficult for people across the country to exercise their right to vote. As the nation continues to grapple with COVID-19, local and state agencies face numerous challenges in their work to protect our voting systems and ensure that everyone can safely and securely vote throughout the remaining 2020 election cycle.
Resources
Navigating Public Health and Democracy After the Election
Six Policies that Advance Black Health and Wellbeing
Q&A: Tracking How Voting Impacts Health
Equitable Rebuilding from COVID-19: Strengthening Protections for Communities
Election 2020: Public Health Legal Reforms and Projections
2020 Election: Public Health on the Ballot
Law and Policy Pathways to Civic Engagement
COVID-19: Protecting Voter Health and Participation in the 2020 Elections
Links to Voter Safety Resources
Spotlight
Civic Engagement and Public Health: A Q&A with a Leading Researcher on Voting Laws
Advancing Health Equity Through Voter Participation
Network for Public Health Law Comment to HHS Providing Evidence Showing Relationship Between Health and Voting
Learn More
Protecting voter health and participation
People of color, low-income people, people with lower education levels, and people with physical or mental health issues are disproportionately burdened by barriers to participation in the electoral process. These barriers include reduced early voting, limited polling locations, inadequate staffing and resources in polling locations and inadequate staff training, ballots that are complicated in design or are only in one language, and signature matching requirements. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, these barriers are exacerbated by health concerns as states and localities continue to work to contain the virus.
The Network is collaborating with public health and other partners to help raise awareness about protecting public health and voter participation in the 2020 elections.
Want our help?
Western Region Office
Experts at the Western Region Office can assist with a broad range of questions related to COVID-19 legal preparedness and response, including:
» Emergency declarations
» Isolation and quarantine
» Constitutionality of actions
» Crisis standards of care
- Contact a Western Region Law & Policy Expert
James G. Hodge, Jr. Director (480) 727-8576
jhodge@networkforphl.orgApril Shaw Staff Attorney (480) 727-2091
ashaw@networkforphl.orgLeila Barraza Consultant (480) 965-9741
lbarraza@networkforphl.orgSarah Wetter Staff Attorney (570) 906-1921
swetter@networkforphl.org
Northern Region Office
Experts at the Northern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Impact on mental health
» Telehealth, distance learning, and broadband access
» Challenges/responses for rural communities
» Environmental and climate issues
- Contact a Northern Region Law & Policy Expert
Jill Krueger Director (952) 452-9705
jkrueger@networkforphl.orgBetsy Lawton Senior Staff Attorney (952) 452-9697
blawton@networkforphl.org
Mid-States Region Office
Experts at the Mid-States Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Data privacy and freedom of information laws
» Public health authority, emergency powers and decision-making
» Americans with Disabilities Act
» Emergency contracting and procurement
» Sick leave and Family Medical Leave Act
» Employer and employee rights
- Contact a Mid-States Region Law & Policy Expert
Denise Chrysler Director (734) 647-1316
dchrysler@networkforphl.orgPeter D. Jacobson Co-Director Jennifer Bernstein Deputy Director (734) 764-6772
jbernstein@networkforphl.orgColleen Healy Boufides Deputy Director (734) 764-2089
chealyboufides@networkforphl.orgSallie Milam Deputy Director (952) 452-9700
smilam@networkforphl.org
Southeastern Region Office
Experts at the Southeastern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Medicaid and COVID-19 response
» Drug prevention and local boards of health
» Messaging
- Contact a Southeastern Region Law & Policy Expert
Gene Matthews Director (734) 647-1316
gmatthews@networkforphl.orgJane Perkins Senior Attorney (919) 260-4303
jperkins@networkforphl.orgSarah Somers Managing Director (919) 968-6308 Ext. 102
ssomers@networkforphl.orgCorey Davis Deputy Director (310) 736-1657
cdavis@networkforphl.orgAmy Lieberman Senior Attorney (952) 500-9105
alieberman@networkforphl.org
Eastern Region Office
Experts at the Eastern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
» Eviction bans
» Utility shutoff bans
» Food access during school closures
- Contact an Eastern Region Law & Policy Expert
Kathi Hoke Director (410) 706-1294
khoke@networkforphl.orgMegan Griest Chief of Staff (410) 706-0584
mgriest@networkforphl.orgKerri McGowan
LowreyDeputy Director & Director
of Grants & Research(410) 706-5994
klowrey@networkforphl.orgMathew Swinburne Associate Director (410) 706-4532
mswinburne@networkforphl.org