Healing Politics

As the last day of voting has approached, election officials and election law experts have been fielding questions about the secrecy of ballots. Bottom line: the fact that you voted may be public information (depending on where you live), but whom you vote for is not public.  Voter registration lists are public records and may show your name, address, party affiliation, and the last time you voted. If you’ve been canvassing for a candidate, you have seen how campaigns use these data. Those lists will be updated when you vote. Again – it is public information that you voted, not how you voted.  More information about voter roll privacy is available from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. https://lnkd.in/edG35W_7

Thank you, Leslie Catalano, MSN RN, for addressing Nursing and Politics on your Healthy Nurse Connection podcast! Another great job Kimberly Gordon DNP, CRNA, talking about the link between legislation, nursing and healthcare. Take a listen! https://lnkd.in/e8F_s-dt

It's VOTE EARLY DAY!! Scheduled for the Tuesday before Halloween, Vote Early Day encourages all voters to learn about their voting options in state, local, and municipal elections. If you are one of the millions of Americans who have already voted - kudos! Not sure about the rules and deadlines in your state? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g8ctVT3R 

As the countdown to the Presidential election continues, we are thrilled to celebrate the results of an election earlier this month: Kudos to Maureen Hall, elected to the Juneau City Assembly! Maureen attended the 2024 Healing Politics Campaign School in June, initially planning a run for statewide office a couple of years out. But when she returned home, she decided to retire from her 17 year career as a school nurse and filed a letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission to run for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Within days, her treasurer was on board, she got photos taken and a website set up, and turned to her network. And on October 21st, she was sworn in to the Juneau Assembly! We can't wait to see what you do, Maureen, as you pursue your passion, "which is to go upstream to address childhood trauma." Congratulations! Aren't school nurses amazing?! We are inspired, Maureen!! More on the final election results here: https://lnkd.in/eMRkz5uG

A must-read opinion piece.  Written by 2 former Secretaries of State – one Republican and one Democrat – and an ER physician.   “By encouraging nonpartisan civic engagement, we're empowering patients to address the root causes of many health issues.  The intersection of health care and civic engagement presents a unique opportunity to address two critical issues simultaneously: public health and democratic participation.” We are proud to be Vot-ER partners and encourage you to get your Vot-ER badge!   https://lnkd.in/eU8UpKPi

"I never thought about nurse leadership in politics until recently, and now it's rushing at me!" These were the words of a veteran nurse, just yesterday. Have you considered entering public service but weren’t sure where to start? Not even sure of the right questions to ask? Healing Politics exists to help! We’ve connected with hundreds of nurses and midwives thinking about making the leap to elected office. We’ve studied campaign training, gathered valuable insights from campaign professionals, and run two campaign schools tailored to nurses and midwives! Join us November 12th from 5-6:30p Eastern for an interactive workshop to help you answer essential questions. For more details, and to register: https://lnkd.in/duNnhD-J Consider yourself asked!

With early voting underway and <3 weeks to Election Day, we have heard from our friends at Power the Polls that while many jurisdictions are fully staffed, there are several hundred more still actively recruiting pollworkers. Poll workers in local communities across the country keep polling places open, help their neighbors vote, and ensure every voter has access to the ballot box. Serving as a poll worker is one of the most effective, nonpartisan ways you can support democracy! It's not too late to reach out and learn what the needs are in your community. Use the link below! https://lnkd.in/d4Va9UCX  

Healing Politics Aficionados know that we host monthly virtual events. In the spirit of civic engagement, we encourage every nurse and midwife to Create Your Own Event in October! With 24 days to the election (although your voting plan may well include early voting!) we encourage you to do something in October to make a difference in November and beyond. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/efvBRSeH

Across the country, voters count on their polling location to be accessible, efficient, and most importantly, OPEN for Election Day and early voting. Without poll workers, none of this would be possible. Some states still need poll workers to ensure everyone can participate in democracy. See your state? Head to the link to sign up now! Healing Politics is proud to partner with non-partisan Power the Polls. https://lnkd.in/d4Va9UCX.

We are so very grateful to Nelson Dunlap for an enlightening presentation last evening on the political determinants of health.  There were many valuable takeaways not just from the great presentation, but from our participants as well. One of our favorite comments in the chat:  “I really appreciate the reminder that any entry into the work of advocacy is valuable and good.  It's all interconnected, and sometimes I spend time trying to find just the right place to start, but getting started is more important!” Yes!  Get started, wherever it seems right for you!  Engage with the advocacy committee of a professional organization. Or any other advocacy organization doing work on an issue you care about. Register voters. Work for a candidate you want to see elected. Who better to "connect the dots for stakeholders" than nurses?   And, if you were one of the registrants who had a security issue between your browser and Zoom, we are so sorry!  An email with a link to the recording will be going out soon.