WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.420 --> 00:00:16.200 Tricia Brooks: Good afternoon, everyone. We're going to give folks just a minute to join here, and then we'll get started. But thank you for being here. 2 00:00:50.810 --> 00:01:01.099 Tricia Brooks: Okay, it looks like, it's a good time to get started. And again, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us. I'm Tricia Brooks. 3 00:01:01.150 --> 00:01:14.900 Tricia Brooks: And today is a special day. It's national Voter Registration Day. And we wanted to talk about the importance of supporting nonpartisan voter registration efforts and civic engagement. 4 00:01:15.030 --> 00:01:39.349 Tricia Brooks: Healthcare impacts each and every one of us, some more than others. But healthcare policies may vary from state to state and evolve over time based on who our policymakers are, and how they shape healthcare access and cost. Our laws and public policy should reflect the communities they serve. But that won't happen unless underrepresented constituencies 5 00:01:39.350 --> 00:01:48.110 Tricia Brooks: get registered and vote. So here on National Voter Registration Day we wanted to talk about how the healthcare community can help 6 00:01:48.110 --> 00:02:12.240 Tricia Brooks: healthcare, help healthcare voices be heard at the ballot box. So joining us today is Emily Pollak from vote er vote er is a nonpartisan civic engagement effort for the healthcare system, and Emily's going to talk about the connection between voting and health, and how different healthcare organizations can plug in and use their available tools 7 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:21.920 Tricia Brooks: to encourage voter registration, and then, following Emily, we'll hear from 2 state-based groups about their voter registration efforts. 8 00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:44.559 Tricia Brooks: First, st we'll hear from, I think Kelly's up first.st The way I saw the slides. First.st We'll hear from Kelly Tolby, from Kentucky, voices for health, and then Chandra Freeman from the Tennessee Justice Center, and both of them will share why their organizations are engaged, and what they're doing to encourage and support healthcare voters in their State. 9 00:02:44.560 --> 00:03:09.500 Tricia Brooks: Then, after the presentations, my colleague, Margo Johnson Green, will moderate the QA. In the meantime, feel free to use the chat for sharing comments. But please do use the QA. Button for questions. We also have Adam Searing another colleague of ours, standing by to address any questions that you have about ensuring that voter registration efforts are nonpartisan, and within the 10 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:15.580 Tricia Brooks: of what nonprofits can do. I also want to thank our newest colleague 11 00:03:15.975 --> 00:03:40.130 Tricia Brooks: Yuliaka. I'm gonna start practicing her last name so I can get it right. But she's behind the scenes running the show for us today, and this is her 1st webinar for Ccf, so welcome, Yulia, and thank you for working with us on this webinar, and so far smooth sailing, and with that Emily, it is all yours. 12 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:45.809 Emily Polak: Oh, thank you so much. Tricia, can folks hear me? Okay, yeah. 13 00:03:45.990 --> 00:04:11.149 Emily Polak: Okay. Great and I. I wore my special shirt today for today being national voter Registration Day, and every election is indeed a healthcare election. So it's such a delight to be here in a room of many folks who perhaps I overlapped with when I was at community catalyst so some old friends. And it's a delight to meet new friends, too, for those who I don't know. I'm Emily Pollack. I am. Vote er as vice president of park 14 00:04:11.150 --> 00:04:25.879 Emily Polak: partnerships in organizing, and I just want to appreciate and thank Georgetowncisia for the opportunity today to talk to you all. Vod er is a initiative that brings nonpartisan and optional voter registration into healthcare spaces. 15 00:04:25.930 --> 00:04:41.380 Emily Polak: And we really work to provide patients, consumers, and healthcare partners with the opportunity to register, to vote, because we know so much of the healthcare system and healthcare experiences are indeed determined by the policies that our elected officials and ballot initiatives implement 16 00:04:41.450 --> 00:05:01.069 Emily Polak: Vodr works with over 700 different hospitals, clinics, Fqhcs, community health centers and other health advocacy organizations across all 50 States. And we collaborate with over 50,000 individual healthcare professionals who are using our tools and resources to support this nonpartisan voter engagement. 17 00:05:01.329 --> 00:05:12.100 Emily Polak: Just on this slide. I pulled out just a few of our partners who might be in the orbits that you all occupy. Just so you can have a little bit of a sense of who we work with if we can go to the next slide. 18 00:05:13.610 --> 00:05:25.180 Emily Polak: So just as a quick rundown of what I'm going to cover for the next short time. Here's a proposed agenda. I'm going to walk through a little bit of the data that explores the connections between voting and health. 19 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:41.482 Emily Polak: I will introduce Vodr, and how we plug in with partners to build this nonpartisan voter registration and voter turnout into healthcare spaces. I will cover the compliance side of things. So it's great to have Adam here. I am not an attorney. This is not meant as legal guidance. It's just to provide an overview. 20 00:05:41.790 --> 00:05:50.029 Emily Polak: and then we will pivot to give you all some tools to take the next steps, because we are 48 days away from November 5th election day. 21 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:52.089 Emily Polak: So next slide, please. 22 00:05:52.280 --> 00:06:14.760 Emily Polak: So first, st even though perhaps everybody in this room is already registered to vote at your current address before we dig in. I just want to make sure that people have time to do this. So please take one quick minute and scan that QR code. Pull out your phones, and scan that QR code, or you can go to the link right there, and I'll put it in the chat as well. 23 00:06:14.760 --> 00:06:27.530 Emily Polak: and it's going to take you literally 30 seconds, just to confirm that your voter registration is up to date at your current address. And part of this is also just to show you how easy it is, so that when we get to the tail end of this presentation 24 00:06:27.550 --> 00:06:31.455 Emily Polak: you are inspired to take action. So I'll just plug that. 25 00:06:32.590 --> 00:06:35.550 Emily Polak: that link in the chat for you while folks are doing this 26 00:06:45.840 --> 00:06:48.600 Emily Polak: always that awkward silence while people are checking 27 00:06:49.274 --> 00:06:56.200 Emily Polak: but thank you for checking and just making sure in honor of today being National Voter Registration Day. 28 00:07:11.530 --> 00:07:16.280 Emily Polak: I'm gonna slowly go into the presentation. If you need to finish up. That's totally okay. 29 00:07:16.692 --> 00:07:22.749 Emily Polak: If we can go to the next slide. Great. All right. So next up, we're going to talk about the link between voting and health. 30 00:07:23.090 --> 00:07:24.830 Emily Polak: Okay, next slide, please. 31 00:07:25.390 --> 00:07:45.869 Emily Polak: So with data and research that was conducted by one of Odr's dear partners and friends, healthy democracy, healthy people, we can see that there is this quite clear relationship between better health and more voting access across States nationally, and that was done through healthy democracy, healthy people's health and democracy index 32 00:07:45.950 --> 00:08:08.929 Emily Polak: as they share. We can tell that States with more inclusive voting policies and greater levels of civic participation are healthier, and conversely, states with exclusionary voting laws and lower levels of civic participation are less healthy. We know that voting policies really shape our ability to participate in elections and be represented on decisions that are important to us as individuals and communities 33 00:08:08.950 --> 00:08:21.509 Emily Polak: and those States that make elections more accessible through policies like automatic and same day voter registration, less strict voter id requirements, felon reenfranchisement and mail voting options 34 00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:32.580 Emily Polak: absolutely enjoy higher levels of voter participation and stronger public health outcomes and those States that have more barriers to voting, and lower rates of voter participation have worse public health outcomes. 35 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:59.170 Emily Polak: and we also know that these barriers can become a self reinforcing prophecy that people who are experiencing poor health are less likely to vote, and people who don't vote are more likely to report that they have poor health. And this tends to impact people with lower incomes and lower education levels as well as people of color more than other population groups, and the result then becomes under representation of these communities in important policy decisions that shape health and overall health outcomes. 36 00:08:59.862 --> 00:09:05.170 Emily Polak: But thankfully, higher levels of civic participation can help mitigate these disparities. 37 00:09:05.260 --> 00:09:06.670 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 38 00:09:07.560 --> 00:09:27.180 Emily Polak: And similarly, we can't begin to address different social determinants of health until we address and can point our interventions towards the structural determinants of health, and that's where voting can come in. We often pay so much attention to the top of the ticket, but the reality is that so much of what shapes health, and our healthcare system is really down ballot. 39 00:09:27.180 --> 00:09:49.130 Emily Polak: There are over 100,000 local elections across the United States this year. And those are elections, as you probably all know, that impact decisions about climate which can have major health implications. They can influence funding for community health centers and school based health programs and vaccine distribution programs and enrollment assistance programs. And so really, when it comes to our own lives 40 00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:56.150 Emily Polak: and the lives of the consumers and the families that you're all supporting. So many of those decisions are made locally or at the state level. 41 00:09:56.210 --> 00:09:57.420 Emily Polak: Next slide. 42 00:09:58.400 --> 00:10:14.939 Emily Polak: Vodr came out of this realization of the major issue that roughly, 72 million eligible people in this country are not registered to vote. And it's really quite staggering when you consider how our healthcare systems could really be improved if more people voted and had a seat at the table 43 00:10:15.170 --> 00:10:16.360 Emily Polak: next slide. 44 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.450 Emily Polak: And 45 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:24.200 Emily Polak: often the reason people aren't registered, and the reason that they're not showing up to vote is because they haven't been 46 00:10:25.280 --> 00:10:35.240 Emily Polak: the data tells us that for so many folks who are eligible to register, to vote. Too many of them simply have never been asked. And so Vodr and our partners are working to help shift that 47 00:10:35.670 --> 00:10:36.990 Emily Polak: next slide, please. 48 00:10:38.190 --> 00:11:04.909 Emily Polak: And it's these same folks, members, consumers, patients who are the ones who are most marginalized by our healthcare system. So when you look at the top, 3 groups of people who are disproportionately making up those 72 million unregistered voters. Many of them are people who are young, low income and people of color and the intersections therein. And when you see, for example, the patients and consumers, the children and the families who come for enrollment assistance. 49 00:11:04.910 --> 00:11:12.809 Emily Polak: who need chip coverage or who qualify for other public benefits programs. It's often those who are most marginalized by our current healthcare system. 50 00:11:12.810 --> 00:11:38.870 Emily Polak: And it's these same 3 groups. So Vodr really exists on this premise. What if these patients, what if these consumers and families were asked to register, to vote through an optional nonpartisan effort? And how could this begin to transform their healthcare experience, and ultimately our healthcare system? And not only that, what if we could also make sure to ask that same question to the healthcare professionals providing this care and enrollment support. 51 00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:40.870 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 52 00:11:42.630 --> 00:11:48.696 Emily Polak: As I just referenced, we need to make sure it's not just patients but that it's healthcare professionals as well. 53 00:11:49.110 --> 00:12:03.840 Emily Polak: we know from from different evaluation efforts that healthcare professionals, the the wide gamut of them are 12 to 23% less likely to vote than the general population, and they're also registered to vote at lower rates. 54 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:18.110 Emily Polak: And while we don't have the explicit data on the folks who do enrollment, assistance work or community health workers. Our assumption is that these broad statistics for healthcare professionals being registered and turning out at lower rates also holds true. 55 00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:37.599 Emily Polak: Less time available. There are obstacles in the way, the ability to go vote and take time off, etc. So what does it mean for our healthcare system, when healthcare professionals and the people on the floor of clinics, the people doing enrollment work, who see the real impact of policy on patients and their consumers aren't able to vote either. 56 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:39.450 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 57 00:12:39.970 --> 00:12:47.949 Emily Polak: So with a groundswell of support, the American Medical Association actually worked with Vodr to name voting as a social determinant of health. 58 00:12:47.990 --> 00:13:02.589 Emily Polak: Other organizations have made similar statements, like the American College of Physicians, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Association of Community Health Workers and even Hrsa health Resources and Services Administration at the Federal level. 59 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:23.959 Emily Polak: And actually, 4 States have also recognized this interconnection between voting and health. So New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and just a few weeks ago, Pennsylvania, all named August as Civic Health Month, naming that month as an important time to galvanize different healthcare entities and institutions, to engage in nonpartisan civic engagement work 60 00:13:24.510 --> 00:13:25.759 Emily Polak: next slide, please. 61 00:13:26.210 --> 00:13:36.210 Emily Polak: So how can vodr help? This is the fun part. This is how we get to talk about equipping you all as health professionals with the tools to engage in this work. 62 00:13:36.520 --> 00:13:47.290 Emily Polak: We know that healthcare workers are among some of the most trusted sources for information, and we also know that most people see a healthcare professional each year, if not more than one more than once. 63 00:13:47.380 --> 00:13:56.099 Emily Polak: And additionally, while we don't have any data specifically on enrollment assistance or community health workers in terms of where they are in the level of trust 64 00:13:56.704 --> 00:14:02.230 Emily Polak: of healthcare professionals, I would venture a really strong guess that you guys rank 65 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:11.159 Emily Polak: quite high up there. We know nurses are number one in terms of trusted messengers. But for enrollment folks who people are sharing medical histories with 66 00:14:11.380 --> 00:14:25.990 Emily Polak: and financial information, this is this is a highly trusted relationship. And so, knowing that you have that built in as a trusted messenger equips you and situates you as being a really wonderful person to talk about nonpartisan voter registration work 67 00:14:26.310 --> 00:14:27.459 Emily Polak: next slide, please. 68 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:37.129 Emily Polak: So Vodr takes this premise of collaborating with healthcare professionals as trusted messengers to bring optional nonpartisan voter registration into the mix 69 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:42.770 Emily Polak: we collaborate directly with healthcare systems and institutions, individuals and organizations. 70 00:14:43.020 --> 00:15:04.150 Emily Polak: Our tools include our bread and butter lanyards which has a voter registration. QR code on them. Customized digital materials that can be printed or shared electronically and different templates to help folks check their voter registration. All of our tools are free. They're nonpartisan, and they are user led. So they are fully in compliance with any State specific voter registration laws. 71 00:15:04.520 --> 00:15:05.719 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 72 00:15:06.124 --> 00:15:22.980 Emily Polak: This is a an image of what our badges look like as enrollment assistance or community health workers or folks who are really those deep, trusted messengers. Your bread and butter is making sure that health insurance can be more accessible and understandable for the consumers and families that you're supporting. 73 00:15:23.365 --> 00:15:39.170 Emily Polak: Voting. Our tools operate in a similar way. Our goal is that they weave in nonpartisan voter registration seamlessly. We are completely optional. We won't interrupt how people are engaging with their patients or their consumers, and it's all politically neutral 74 00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:40.850 Emily Polak: next slide. 75 00:15:41.220 --> 00:16:10.299 Emily Polak: and just to offer a quick snapshot of some of the programs that Vodr runs in addition to the work that we do with different healthcare systems and associations. We also have a small grant making program for community health centers and federally qualified health centers. We engage students in what we call our healthy democracy competition. So it's all health professional students competing with one another to do more voter registration efforts in public health spaces and nursing programs. And Med student programs and dental programs. 76 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:16.620 Emily Polak: And all of this at the end of the day is about making sure more people who are eligible are registered to vote 77 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.339 Emily Polak: next slide, please. 78 00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:45.169 Emily Polak: at the very core of what we do is we look for all the ways in which voter registration can become ingrained in healthcare spaces and for those most effective inclusions it's having these trusted healthcare professionals ask a question. So this is a photo of one of our dear dear friends, Dr. Peggy Staker. She's a pediatrician in Ohio, and she has actually been working with Odr since we 1st came about. We're about 4 and a half 5 years old now. 79 00:16:45.474 --> 00:17:11.080 Emily Polak: And she is showing a patient, possibly a newly eligible young voter. Her vote vote er badge and opening up the conversation by just asking the question. So in the same way that a healthcare professional would do those social history questions, are you safe at home? Do you wear your seat belt. What about your alcohol consumption? Are you registered to vote? And then, if the answer is No, or I'm not sure I don't know if it's at my current address. 80 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:20.770 Emily Polak: it's just sparking that. Hey? Pull out your phone, scan our badge, and it'll take you to that same landing page that you all looked at to check your own voter registration at the beginning of this session. 81 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:30.679 Emily Polak: These react in reality, these conversations take up a very short amount of time each visit. But they make a really big impact for consumers and patients and communities. 82 00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:32.089 Emily Polak: Next slide. 83 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:54.509 Emily Polak: this one is just I wanted to include just the quote for you to see from another one of our partners about why, from a healthcare professional standpoint, this work is fully integrated into addressing social determinants of health. We really appreciate all of our partners who understand at the core. This is what they're doing. 84 00:17:54.986 --> 00:17:55.860 Emily Polak: Next slide. 85 00:17:57.020 --> 00:18:11.710 Emily Polak: And then, finally, Bodr had an unanticipated outcome of all of our tools. When we surveyed our partners using our tools, we actually learned that by using these tools and building these nonpartisan voter registration efforts into their work. 86 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:19.340 Emily Polak: People were building their morale and protecting against burnout, which we know is incredibly high amongst healthcare professionals. 87 00:18:19.741 --> 00:18:22.959 Emily Polak: So we were very excited to learn this as well. 88 00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:25.790 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 89 00:18:25.930 --> 00:18:36.629 Emily Polak: Alright. So I wanted to talk just a little bit about the legality and the compliance. Here again, I am not an attorney, so Adam, feel free to chime in if you want on any of this. 90 00:18:37.070 --> 00:18:44.519 Emily Polak: But what is important for us to know is that all of these efforts are fully in compliance with the various different pieces of Federal legislation. 91 00:18:45.440 --> 00:19:07.540 Emily Polak: So 1st off, most of us are familiar with the way that departments of motor vehicles are equipped to register patients to vote when you go and renew your license. There's an optional question of, would you like to register to vote? And it's actually one of the main reasons why the voter registration rate in Georgia is so high because the Georgia Dmv. Incorporates an automatic voter registration option for people coming in their doors. 92 00:19:07.750 --> 00:19:17.739 Emily Polak: So Vodr approached it from this same frame. Why can't we do the same kind of thing in hospitals and community health centers, enrollment offices and other healthcare spaces. 93 00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:44.369 Emily Polak: Voter registration belongs in these healthcare spaces just as much as it does within the Dmvs. And we know that eligible voters have far more regular interaction with their healthcare providers than with departments of motor vehicles. Thank goodness, no offense to anybody who's affiliated with the Dmv. So bringing voter registration into healthcare spaces would really be an important touch point, and our platform ensures that all of this remains nonpartisan. 94 00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:48.890 Emily Polak: So what oops? Sorry go back for a sec. 95 00:19:49.860 --> 00:20:18.230 Emily Polak: One of our partners, nonprofit vote, who is actually at the helm of today, being national Voter Registration Day released a set of legal guidance to help nonprofit organizations understand what they can and cannot do by way of nonpartisan voting voter registration. So just as a quick quote, 501 c. 3 organizations may conduct nonpartisan voter engagement activities designed to help the public participate in elections, such as voter registration, voter education and get out the vote work which is called Gotv. 96 00:20:18.230 --> 00:20:34.000 Emily Polak: and, as I mentioned previously, Hrsa. The Health Resources and Services administration as part of Hhs. At the Federal level, also crafted guidance for Fqhcs. To be able to do this work. All of this is also in full compliance with Irs, guidance and standards. 97 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.550 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 98 00:20:36.150 --> 00:20:42.460 Emily Polak: And finally, because all of the tools that we use are user led. It means that everything is fully hipaa compliant. 99 00:20:43.230 --> 00:20:53.060 Emily Polak: And in most States you are actually allowed to help somebody complete their voter registration form. It's just Texas that requires that you be deputized while remaining politically neutral. 100 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:55.900 Emily Polak: in fact. 101 00:20:55.930 --> 00:21:19.599 Emily Polak: given the likelihood that most of you all help enroll folks in different types of programs, or familiar with those types of enrollment efforts like Medicaid or chip coverage. You've probably encountered the optional voter registration question on those same types of forms, and this is required by law under the 1,993 National Voter Registration Act. So again, all of this is following those Federal requirements and guidances. 102 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:37.229 Emily Polak: The Nvra, the National Voter Registration Act States requires States to designate State government agencies and offices that provide public assistance or services to people with disabilities as Nvra voter registration agencies as well as other offices that each State deems appropriate. 103 00:21:37.770 --> 00:21:39.160 Emily Polak: Next slide, please. 104 00:21:39.930 --> 00:21:44.209 Emily Polak: and so there's more I can't allude to anything 105 00:21:44.600 --> 00:22:03.270 Emily Polak: quite concrete at this moment in time, but we are very hopeful that soon there will be another opportunity for nonpartisan optional voter registration to be incorporated into enrollment spaces. So once we know a little bit more. We will be thrilled to share with Georgetown folks, and they can share this with this network. 106 00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:29.569 Emily Polak: Until then I just wanted to make a an asterisk of a note. If you get State navigator dollars. If you get Federal navigator dollars, you are not allowed to use those dollars at this point in time to do nonpartisan voter registration work. You have to have other other funding other fungible dollars that can support the small amount of time that enrollment folks would be using to ask the question and support someone. So more to come on that hopefully soon. 107 00:22:30.310 --> 00:22:31.810 Emily Polak: Okay, next slide. 108 00:22:32.430 --> 00:22:42.979 Emily Polak: So here, here's where we are to take the next step. We are less than a hundred days from this year's election. In fact, we're only at 48 days from this year's election on November 5, th 109 00:22:43.150 --> 00:22:47.449 Emily Polak: and we would love to make our tools available to you all to next slide. 110 00:22:48.200 --> 00:23:03.679 Emily Polak: So today, these are the key dates on the horizon today is national voter Registration day, next up we have October 29, th which is national vote early day for most States that allow early voting, and then we have the election. 111 00:23:03.760 --> 00:23:05.020 Emily Polak: So next slide 112 00:23:06.950 --> 00:23:17.819 Emily Polak: these are a couple of options and ways for you to engage, knowing what the time is like and how we're fast approaching. Many States voter registration deadlines. The earliest ones hit around October 7.th 113 00:23:18.323 --> 00:23:38.069 Emily Polak: I'm gonna put this in the chat after I'm done talking, too, but these are a couple of different options. One we would love you, even though today is the day to send an email to all of your staff at your own organization, reminding them to check their own voter registration today. And so this is the link that will allow them to do exactly what you did at the beginning of this webinar. 114 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:50.559 Emily Polak: We'd also love to invite you to order a free nonpartisan vote er voter registration badge. So you can take it and bring it into spaces with your peers, with your colleagues, with the consumers that you are working with. 115 00:23:51.295 --> 00:24:08.350 Emily Polak: And then you are welcome to also order free custom digital materials that you can print out and put up in different spaces where you were seeing folks from the community. So please take our tools, use them. They are not proprietary. We really welcome people to to take them and share them. 116 00:24:08.728 --> 00:24:25.909 Emily Polak: And then, of course, invite us to come talk. We would love to speak at coalition meetings, or to other partner gatherings and convenings that you are having, and we can do this similar presentation tailored towards your audiences, so that more people can integrate nonpartisan voter registration into the work that they're doing. 117 00:24:26.464 --> 00:24:37.059 Emily Polak: We can go to the next couple of slides, which are just all of those tools that I lifted up, so that you have it easily accessible in the slide deck. When Georgetown shares the slide deck with you afterwards. 118 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:43.350 Emily Polak: and with that I'm happy to take any questions, and I will paste all these links in the chat as well. 119 00:24:58.490 --> 00:25:06.520 Tricia Brooks: Sorry guys. Can't find any buttons here. We have Kelly up next. Go to the next slide, please. Oh. 120 00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:11.739 Tricia Brooks: really, thank you. Okay, Kelly Talby, from Kentucky voices. 121 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.430 Tricia Brooks: You're up. 122 00:25:13.430 --> 00:25:14.040 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: I, 123 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:18.871 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Hi, there! Thank you, and thank you, Emily, that was 124 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:22.089 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: a lot of information. But 125 00:25:22.210 --> 00:25:33.289 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: I hope after today folks will start to use it a little more. So happy National Voter Registration Day. I'm really excited to be here with you all. You can go ahead, Julia, to the next slide. 126 00:25:34.637 --> 00:26:01.739 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Just to give you all a little more information about the work that we do here at Kentucky. Voices for health. We are a statewide nonprofit nonpartisan coalition of consumer based health advocates. We want to improve the underlying causes of poor health through policy advocacy, and we specialize in empowering real people, real Kentuckians, the humans at the end of policies 127 00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:07.369 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: to have a say in the decisions that affect their health and the health of their communities. 128 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:13.890 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: So we are very proud to express full and broad support for nonpartisan civic engagement 129 00:26:13.910 --> 00:26:18.830 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and voter registration tools such as vote ers. They're so important 130 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.620 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: next slide, please. 131 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:30.210 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: So the intersection of good health and civic engagement, like Tricia and Emily, both shared, are inseparable. 132 00:26:30.530 --> 00:26:34.880 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: We want a Kentucky, and honestly, every State. 133 00:26:34.970 --> 00:26:42.059 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: But for Kentucky. We want a Kentucky where every single person, regardless of who they are or where they live 134 00:26:42.260 --> 00:26:51.940 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: to have the ability to have their basic health related. Social needs met. So voter registration and civic engagement is incredibly important to us. 135 00:26:52.354 --> 00:27:06.569 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Healthcare is for everyone, and everyone is a healthcare voter. But what does that look like. Maybe you know, or are working with someone fighting cancer or a chronic illness. Maybe you are that someone. 136 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:13.309 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: maybe your young child contracted flu a few years ago, and it was the absolute, scariest time of your life. 137 00:27:13.350 --> 00:27:19.310 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And now you choose to put truth to your humanity when talking to other families with young children. 138 00:27:19.570 --> 00:27:38.699 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Maybe you're a dedicated and avid supporter of blood, tissue and organ donation. Maybe you or someone you love has experienced a maternity care, desert, and did not have adequate and quality prenatal care access. Maybe you struggle to find a local dentist who will take your healthcare insurance coverage. 139 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:45.010 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: or maybe you just have to travel hours in order to just have your basic necessary medical care checkups. 140 00:27:45.490 --> 00:27:56.720 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Maybe your child lives with an intellectual disability or a physical disability, and every decision you make from what they eat to where they learn influences everything you do. 141 00:27:57.140 --> 00:28:00.359 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Maybe the affordable care act and medicaid expansion 142 00:28:00.550 --> 00:28:05.810 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: saved your life and the lives of those you love. I can obviously keep going. 143 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:15.009 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: This is a limitless list, but these are all reasons why healthcare is for everyone and everyone is absolutely a healthcare voter. 144 00:28:15.310 --> 00:28:21.769 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: We personally tailor this in Kentucky as Ky. Voters for health and Ky healthcare voter. 145 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:31.849 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: But that is obviously not an original thought. Many States have similar messaging efforts, or easily could if they are not already available. 146 00:28:31.910 --> 00:28:38.540 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: We know that the more positive experiences that people have with their government, including civic engagement 147 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:48.310 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: with the programs intended to support families at the end of those policies. We will impact civic engagement positively, and improve health outcomes in the long run. 148 00:28:48.520 --> 00:28:50.199 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Next slide, please. 149 00:28:51.680 --> 00:29:12.590 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Every year Kentucky voices for health updates, our Voter resources guide to reflect the current cycles, dates, and these are a few examples of how we promote this information on our social media accounts. We include reminders for how to access information about judicial, local, and all nonpartisan races as well. 150 00:29:13.003 --> 00:29:20.109 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And we also include any other need to know information like this year, where we have 2 constitutional amendments on the ballot 151 00:29:20.670 --> 00:29:28.569 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: through policy, education and advocacy trainings, Kentucky voices for health supports, nonpartisan civic engagement. 152 00:29:28.770 --> 00:29:38.109 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and this includes organizing in plain language all of the deadlines, the rules, the how to's the need to knows for voting each year. 153 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:48.559 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And at that blue link you can see this year's voter resource guide every year. When it is updated, it is always available on our act. Page 154 00:29:49.710 --> 00:29:51.190 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: next slide, please. 155 00:29:52.880 --> 00:30:03.219 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: So as consumer based policy advocates, we primarily are a grass tops organization and our policy work does align with that. 156 00:30:03.520 --> 00:30:12.799 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: But being grass tops does not mean we cannot and do not supply those resources and information to those who are the more grassroots and boots on the ground. 157 00:30:13.210 --> 00:30:26.850 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Nonpartisan voter resources and registration is for everyone, and that is how and where we will help empower coalitions that we work with closely, such as the Kentucky civic engagement table or thrive Kentucky. 158 00:30:27.661 --> 00:30:34.169 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: For the same reason that being healthy means so much more than having your basic health insurance coverage. 159 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:40.209 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: People need to know where to access healthy food, quality and affordable housing or childcare. 160 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:44.489 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and the more people have this information 161 00:30:44.560 --> 00:30:49.879 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: better. And yes, this also includes reliable voter registration tools. 162 00:30:50.170 --> 00:30:54.639 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: A democracy does require that the voice of its people be heard. 163 00:30:54.910 --> 00:31:00.510 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: The fewer barriers to healthcare access means that more people have healthcare. 164 00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:07.380 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: The fewer barriers to food and housing resources means that more people have access to food and housing. 165 00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:14.040 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and the same logic applies the fewer barriers to reliable voting resources and registration information. 166 00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:18.850 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: The more people will have the ability to vote and participate in civic engagement. 167 00:31:19.590 --> 00:31:21.179 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Next slide, please 168 00:31:23.050 --> 00:31:40.190 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: our continuing education programs at Kentucky, voices for health supports, social workers, community health workers, attorneys, behavioral health professionals, teachers, librarians, and any others that we bundle into this umbrella term of a community professional. 169 00:31:40.410 --> 00:31:47.570 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: These are boots on the ground that we offer free continuing education or professional development certificates to. 170 00:31:47.710 --> 00:31:55.610 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: They are working directly with patients and clients as those families and individuals navigate Kentucky's healthcare systems 171 00:31:56.710 --> 00:32:02.009 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: empowering these trusted messengers is with the latest policy updates 172 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:06.029 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: is absolutely supporting those in need of care. 173 00:32:06.050 --> 00:32:10.839 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And why is that so important to us for nonpartisan civic engagement? 174 00:32:11.490 --> 00:32:14.489 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Change happens at the speed of trust. 175 00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:28.090 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Trust in messengers are the number one catalyst for stronger engagement. You can't see it too terribly. Well, I am sporting a Kentucky healthcare voters shirt, but I brought an extra one as a prop. 176 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:36.119 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: because we use ourselves to promote advocacy and civic engagement, and you can find members of the Kbh staff 177 00:32:36.210 --> 00:32:47.930 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: regularly sporting this message. We practice what we preach. Here's our lovely Alex Quintella in a T-shirt on a recent Kentucky voters for Health Post that we did. 178 00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:54.890 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and we're often using the hashtags that we stick to the Ky voters for health, the Ky healthcare voter. 179 00:32:55.030 --> 00:33:02.090 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and we want to hear from folks to tell us why voting for their health matters. What is important to them. 180 00:33:02.849 --> 00:33:06.469 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: It helps empower them to have a say in those decisions. 181 00:33:07.110 --> 00:33:08.819 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Last slide, please. 182 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:20.959 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: So voter and civic engagement can absolutely seem out of reach at times for nonpartisan nonprofits like ourselves, and we totally understand that 183 00:33:21.210 --> 00:33:35.630 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: there's a lot of noise right? And we are living in a fast paced technological world where that noise is just never ending. But I hope that the 30,000 view of what we're doing here in Kentucky. 184 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:43.199 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: as well as our broad support for vod er today can help influence how you view your work because this is doable. 185 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:54.250 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Well, we can improve health outcomes. We can empower people at the end of policies to have a say in the decisions that affect their health and the health of their communities. 186 00:33:54.260 --> 00:33:58.130 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: and we can impact civic engagement in meaningful ways. 187 00:33:58.872 --> 00:34:04.319 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And I'm happy to answer any questions, or if you'd like to connect further, just let me know. 188 00:34:06.250 --> 00:34:09.679 Tricia Brooks: Thanks so much, and we're going to turn to Chandra now and hear from 189 00:34:09.710 --> 00:34:10.909 Tricia Brooks: Tennessee. 190 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:41.159 Chanda Freeman: Right. Well, good afternoon, everybody. I am grateful for the opportunity to be with you guys today. So I am Chandra Friedman, the Director of Strategic Pop Partnerships. For Health justice next slide, please. And I'm here representing tjc, so for those who may not know, Tjc has been engaged in this work since about 1996, and we stand alongside Tennesseans. 191 00:34:41.526 --> 00:34:47.389 Chanda Freeman: to help families gain access to programs and benefits that are necessary for them to live. 192 00:34:47.826 --> 00:35:10.570 Chanda Freeman: We help families from the bluffs of Mississippi, of Memphis to the hills and mountain city. We help folks cut through red tape and legal barriers that are denying them vital accesses to services like healthcare and nutrition. We use what we learn from individual cases. To pursue systemic reforms that benefit all Tennesseans. 193 00:35:11.468 --> 00:35:22.190 Chanda Freeman: Most recently Tennessee is used. But in the history of our organization, and recently, Tjc has used lawsuits, legislation and coalition 194 00:35:22.685 --> 00:35:44.479 Chanda Freeman: building to overcome injustice, winning about 2 billion dollars in healthcare and hundreds of millions in financial and nutritional assistance for Tennesseans overall, we tackle barriers to inclusion by focusing on what's broken both inside of Tjc. And outside of Tjc. Next slide, please. 195 00:35:45.320 --> 00:36:06.970 Chanda Freeman: Alright. So why is Tjc involved in voter engagement. So we decided to incorporate voter engagement strategies into our work. For a number of reasons. As you can see, Tennessee works 53, rd 51st or dead last in voter turnout. 196 00:36:07.270 --> 00:36:14.999 Chanda Freeman: Oh, only 31% of Tennesseans who were eligible, eligible to vote in 2022, did so. 197 00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:38.839 Chanda Freeman: putting us again last for voter turnout we believe that in incorporating voter engagement, voter registration tactics into our work for several reasons. One. Because of our commitment to equity. Tjc, believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are vital 198 00:36:39.277 --> 00:37:00.260 Chanda Freeman: to our mission of ensuring justice. For all. Second, we view voting as an important tool to advance health equity at the local state and Federal levels. And we know that healthcare providers and healthcare advocates can play key roles in their communities to provoke voter engagement efforts. 199 00:37:00.520 --> 00:37:24.430 Chanda Freeman: We also believe that voters should be engaged to engage with the political systems and advocate for the new laws that are equitable to reverse damage that is caused by inequitable laws. And finally, we believe that it is imperative that voters organize and amplify their voices, so that leaders can be held accountable. 200 00:37:24.927 --> 00:37:34.279 Chanda Freeman: To put people over politics and and money to advance equitable policies like Medicaid expansion. That are supported by 201 00:37:34.290 --> 00:37:38.579 Chanda Freeman: the majority of folks living here in Tennessee, and would improve overall health 202 00:37:38.670 --> 00:37:40.219 Chanda Freeman: next slide, please. 203 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:47.079 Chanda Freeman: So what do we do? And and how does that look for us. 204 00:37:47.560 --> 00:37:48.730 Chanda Freeman: So 205 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:59.989 Chanda Freeman: while at Tjc we do not lead the Statewide voter registration efforts across the State and say, we kind of focus on being a good partner 206 00:38:00.386 --> 00:38:22.980 Chanda Freeman: at Tjc, our work is really grounded in this collective impact framework and within collective impact. You know, there are 5 conditions, you know, developing a shared agenda. And in this case our shared agenda is increasing the number of folks who are typically engaged in the political process. It is developing shared measurement systems. 207 00:38:23.433 --> 00:38:39.290 Chanda Freeman: mutually having a mutually reinforcing activities and community continuous communication. And within this framework, Tjc serves a backbone as a backbone entity. So we pretty much focus on kind of staying in our lane 208 00:38:39.771 --> 00:39:08.670 Chanda Freeman: and collaborating with our partners by encouraging intentional collaboration with organizations within our partner networks in all in in other ways. So right now we are a member of the Tennessee State wide voter engagement table civic Tn. Civic tn is a coalition of over 50 organizations across the State that are meeting every week. And 209 00:39:09.148 --> 00:39:21.100 Chanda Freeman: in fact, they're together. Everybody's together today doing voter turnout work. Today, we collaborate with community based organizations through our black health matters tn. 210 00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:43.511 Chanda Freeman: campaign and within the black health matters tn campaign. It is a statewide coalition of community based organizations led by people of color who are really working to build power and and have an impact and policy change. So one of the things that we do 211 00:39:44.390 --> 00:40:08.650 Chanda Freeman: through our black health matters tn initiatives. If if we have a black health matters pledge. I'm gonna drop a link in the chat. To that pledge. But within the black health matters pledge, we're asking organizations that are part of our of those 100 organizations that are part of our network. Within this pledge, we're asking people to make a commitment 212 00:40:08.650 --> 00:40:21.299 Chanda Freeman: to do their part to promote health justice, so that everybody has access to affordable health care, and we're asking folks to make a pledge to be informed and engage in anti-racist actions to transform 213 00:40:21.300 --> 00:40:33.262 Chanda Freeman: our health care system. We're asking folks to be informed health justice voters, and to inform other folks about the importance of voting and advocating for health equity. 214 00:40:33.790 --> 00:40:36.535 Chanda Freeman: we also utilize 215 00:40:37.600 --> 00:41:04.110 Chanda Freeman: collaborate with national partners like Vodr, black voters, matter and rock the vote to promote and provide voting resources. We have a Tjc proud voter web page. That is linked to our other websites that we try to connect folks to. I'm gonna put a link to the proud voter website in the chat as well, so that you can check that out. 216 00:41:07.370 --> 00:41:08.350 Chanda Freeman: save. 217 00:41:08.770 --> 00:41:26.549 Chanda Freeman: we also utilize our website and social medias, social media platforms to keep folks engaged online and we try to make sure that we are having voter registration opportunities at all of our community events. 218 00:41:27.378 --> 00:41:36.329 Chanda Freeman: Community events for us look like expungement clinics. Driver's license, reinstatement 219 00:41:36.610 --> 00:41:42.919 Chanda Freeman: vaccine clinics and voter registration. Next slide please. 220 00:41:44.650 --> 00:42:06.714 Chanda Freeman: Alright. So I mentioned some of our partners, in Tennessee, where upwards of a half 1 million of 1 million of our residents are ineligible to cast a ballot due to legal restrictions. We believe that voting is more than just a duty. We consider it a sacred responsibility. A part part of what we do with our partners is 221 00:42:07.070 --> 00:42:22.380 Chanda Freeman: making sure that everybody knows that voter voting is a vital mean to drive social change and contribute to the advancement of equality, civil rights, and so social justice. The organizations that are 222 00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:38.730 Chanda Freeman: that we are collaborating with. Several have their own. Like black voters, matter has a national campaign, but they provide training and resources to organizations here in the State. We also collaborate with 223 00:42:39.178 --> 00:43:03.411 Chanda Freeman: Meharry and Naacp. I didn't list on here, but local health departments and federally qualified health clinics. Because we believe everybody coming together is really what is needed. Some of our partners are collaborating to do do things like ensure that Tennessee voters can register to vote using 224 00:43:03.900 --> 00:43:24.570 Chanda Freeman: modern voting machines. And we're working to towards open and fair redistricting processes that better engage Tennesseans. And we also are working to empower communities to really get involved in the redistricting process, and we also also working with 225 00:43:24.730 --> 00:43:37.390 Chanda Freeman: some groups to restore voting rights to as many as 420,000 Tennesseans who are that barred from voting because of past felony convictions 226 00:43:37.720 --> 00:44:03.539 Chanda Freeman: overall. We are really working to support leaders in and community based organizations and making civic engagement a priority in our work. We kind of focus on on 2 main area 2 main constituency groups. One is within black churches and the other is Hbcus, or historically, black colleges and universities. 227 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:28.279 Chanda Freeman: In the State of Tennessee we have 7 of those hbcus. So we are actively working. Building a Co a table of college students and high school students across the State that are kind of championing what it really means to be a health justice or healthcare voter. So I didn't include my contact information here, but I will 228 00:44:28.280 --> 00:44:31.882 Chanda Freeman: drop it in the chat along with some of the other 229 00:44:32.550 --> 00:44:35.723 Chanda Freeman: information that I missed it, that I mentioned. 230 00:44:41.790 --> 00:45:02.469 Tricia Brooks: Well, thank you. All that. That was excellent. And I think the fact that people aren't asking a lot of questions is that you covered the material really well, but but I do have a question, and that is, for Emily, or any of you. With 48 days to go. 231 00:45:03.210 --> 00:45:19.890 Tricia Brooks: How how do? How does someone start small? What's a small thing that someone can do? Because I think you could easily say, oh, my God! 48 days! I can't get my act together in time to have an impact. So, Emily, I'm going to put you on the spot first.st 232 00:45:20.190 --> 00:45:32.190 Emily Polak: Oh, that's a good one. And Tricia did not plant this question. But I I think it's it's perfectly appropriate, especially since a number of States have voter registration deadlines. Starting as early as October 7, th 233 00:45:32.420 --> 00:45:52.080 Emily Polak: I think the very 1st thing to do is make sure that all of your colleagues are able to check their voter registration. Start within your own walls of your organization, and whether your organization is 5 people or 50 people. That's, however, that many number of people more who have an up to date, accurate voter registration ready to go. 234 00:45:52.357 --> 00:46:06.530 Emily Polak: If you are interested in using the Voddr tools. And I I think Kelly and Chandra also listed up different ways that people can check their voter registrations. I can only speak to to what happens on the back end of ours, but it means that people will then also get 235 00:46:06.890 --> 00:46:25.619 Emily Polak: they won't be inundated at all. But they will get a reminder via text and or email about what they need to bring with them to the polls, to go vote when early voting would start in their State, where they go to vote for their polling location, so they'll have all the information at their fingertips or in their phone. 236 00:46:25.904 --> 00:46:28.549 Emily Polak: So I would. I would start within your own organization. 237 00:46:30.120 --> 00:46:41.819 Emily Polak: I would also start by thinking about. Yes, it is 48 days till the election, but the work that we all are doing should be happening every day of the year. 238 00:46:41.850 --> 00:46:51.689 Emily Polak: year in and year out, whether it's a presidential cycle year or an off cycle year. Local elections matter so much, and the turnout for those is so much lower 239 00:46:51.790 --> 00:47:15.680 Emily Polak: than what we're going to be seeing on November 5th this year. So ordering a Vodr badge, for example, and integrating it into how you're talking to different patients or families or consumers, day in and day out, is a really great way to start it. It doesn't have to be just for this election. It could just kind of become part of your routine. And it it all will have an impact. 240 00:47:15.750 --> 00:47:17.799 Emily Polak: I don't know, Kelly, and trying to. What else 241 00:47:18.770 --> 00:47:19.730 Emily Polak: do you have. 242 00:47:20.180 --> 00:47:21.190 Chanda Freeman: Well. 243 00:47:21.570 --> 00:47:23.310 Chanda Freeman: go ahead, Kelly, I'll go next. 244 00:47:24.220 --> 00:47:31.380 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: I I would just co-sign, you know, starting small within your organization, absolutely at this point in the game. 245 00:47:32.024 --> 00:47:39.945 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And we also try to promote. You know, there's no territorialism with this information. The information we are putting together in plain language 246 00:47:40.310 --> 00:47:57.209 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: is available. It's just not always easy to find sometimes you have to go looking for it. There's different named websites. One of our main voter, and elections websites in Kentucky changed its entire domain. It was either last year or the year before. 247 00:47:57.678 --> 00:48:06.479 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: So people who had had that memorized as a part of their voter registration elevator speeches had to kind of refresh and redo all of that. 248 00:48:06.976 --> 00:48:08.710 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: So we we try to 249 00:48:08.750 --> 00:48:20.079 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: never be territorial with this information. And so if using what we've put together and slapping your logo on it, to put into a newsletter on your social media, please. By all means do so. 250 00:48:20.476 --> 00:48:32.230 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: This is not our information to keep protected and secretive. It's supposed to be publicly available and easy to access. So we also try to promote that. And we know that bandwidth 251 00:48:32.619 --> 00:48:42.860 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: is difficult, you know our, and especially for our trusted messengers. They're already so overwhelmed with so much work. Right? They're they're trying to meet the needs 252 00:48:42.870 --> 00:48:57.390 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: of their clients in so many ways. So if they don't have the time or finances or bandwidth to create their own resources, please take these and run with it. If that is just as simple, and it takes 30 seconds to do. 253 00:48:58.210 --> 00:49:08.170 Tricia Brooks: I often say that plagiarism in this business is the highest form of compliment. So condra pandra. 254 00:49:08.690 --> 00:49:10.556 Tricia Brooks: I'm getting your name wrong. 255 00:49:10.930 --> 00:49:12.589 Chanda Freeman: Janda. So the only. 256 00:49:12.590 --> 00:49:13.180 Tricia Brooks: Yeah. 257 00:49:13.503 --> 00:49:38.069 Chanda Freeman: Yes, to everything that that Kelly and Emily said the other thing that I heard something the other day on Tiktok, and y'all know, that is real news. This lady was talking about how in the last election that there was about the difference in in who won the last election was about a million little over a million votes, and she said something really interesting. She was like, as late as 258 00:49:38.070 --> 00:49:46.250 Chanda Freeman: isn't the game. We don't need you to reach. Like everybody in your community. We only need each of those people who voted last time to reach one person. 259 00:49:46.430 --> 00:50:14.970 Chanda Freeman: So I thought, like, what if we applied it to our organization? So so maybe we don't need every organization to be out working and doing every. What if we can identify one organization. It's gonna be our accountability voting engagement organizational partner. And like, maybe we commit that, we're gonna we're gonna vote together. We're gonna celebrate. You know our organizations are out. One thing that the civic team group does here in Tennessee is they have these election hubs, and, like everybody, wants to be a part of it. So. 260 00:50:15.030 --> 00:50:23.699 Chanda Freeman: and I just think it's opportunities for us to start really small like, start at home, start at work and kind of work your way out. 261 00:50:23.930 --> 00:50:25.250 Chanda Freeman: Hey! 262 00:50:25.250 --> 00:50:30.510 Tricia Brooks: Great news. I'm going to hand it over to Margo, who, I think, has a couple of questions. Margo. 263 00:50:31.190 --> 00:50:55.026 Margaux Johnson-Green: Yeah, that was a great question. Tricia. Thanks for asking that. I don't see any questions in the QA. Right now. But if any pop up, please do ask but I did just have a couple of questions that came up throughout the presentation. And I know the 48 days is really looming over us. And so it's really all hands on deck. Situation right now. 264 00:50:55.717 --> 00:51:05.142 Margaux Johnson-Green: I did. Have a question. For you, Emily. I know you had mentioned the term deputized. You said in Texas. Some 265 00:51:05.630 --> 00:51:16.010 Margaux Johnson-Green: people who are helping voter registration have to be deputized. And I wasn't familiar with that term. So I was wondering if you could maybe give a little bit more explanation of what that means. 266 00:51:16.470 --> 00:51:18.989 Emily Polak: Sure and and I 267 00:51:19.420 --> 00:51:23.350 Emily Polak: think that Tennessee and Kentucky folks probably can speak to some of the 268 00:51:23.840 --> 00:51:31.139 Emily Polak: more particular State limitations on voter registration than I can. But in a nutshell, Margo, thank you for asking that 269 00:51:31.270 --> 00:51:46.970 Emily Polak: in Texas, in order to assist someone else with voter registration efforts, you have to go through a formal training process and pass a test that is developed by the Texas Secretary of State, and then you are officially deputized, and you can assist 270 00:51:47.010 --> 00:51:53.965 Emily Polak: voters in their voter registration efforts. One thing I just want to nail home and 271 00:51:54.490 --> 00:51:59.142 Emily Polak: Shanda and Kelly, please chime in here. But 272 00:52:00.930 --> 00:52:04.759 Emily Polak: the types of tools that most of us are talking about using 273 00:52:04.880 --> 00:52:26.310 Emily Polak: are ones that are user led. So when somebody opens up a website on their phone, and they themselves are doing their own voter registration. There is no risk of not being in compliance with this deputizing law. It is user led. It is done by you yourself as the eligible voter registering yourself, and so there's no risk there 274 00:52:26.440 --> 00:52:30.070 Emily Polak: in Texas. If you want to help other people, you have to be deputized 275 00:52:31.350 --> 00:52:32.450 Emily Polak: other folks. 276 00:52:37.840 --> 00:52:55.139 Chanda Freeman: So it is not as bad in Tennessee, but it is still terrible. The they have made some sweeping changes to like. We're not allowed to pre pre fill voter registration form. So like, there's A, there's been a lot of changes. 277 00:52:55.140 --> 00:53:14.110 Chanda Freeman: But to combat those changes. The organizations like Tjc. And Cbt. And have been holding these community conversations all across the State, and still to talk about to do trainings for folks to help be prepared to help people register in a safe way. 278 00:53:16.560 --> 00:53:20.839 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Yeah. And I and I would just encourage any States either 279 00:53:20.920 --> 00:53:30.609 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: joining us today or watching this back in the recording that if that is an area of any sort of concern. If there's even like a point 2% 280 00:53:30.670 --> 00:53:33.270 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: question mark about that for your State 281 00:53:33.735 --> 00:53:45.430 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: to just use your election Board of Elections resources, be it a Secretary of State or another official, as far as whoever manages that to confirm any concerns there of legality. 282 00:53:47.130 --> 00:54:01.489 Emily Polak: The one other thing I would add is that most States and I don't have a a good line of of which ones but most States allow online voter registration at this point in time? Not at all. Texas is one of them that you have to still register to vote through a paper 283 00:54:01.992 --> 00:54:30.610 Emily Polak: application form but again, through the online portals, there is much more opportunity for the individual eligible voter to be completing their own voter registration, and then they submit it, and it goes directly to the Secretary of State for their State, as opposed to any risk of paper, forms not making it into the mail, etc. Paper forms are important and essential, especially in states where you can only register to vote by a paper form. 284 00:54:30.720 --> 00:54:38.409 Emily Polak: But I think the introduction of online voter registration in many States has opened up opportunities for greater 285 00:54:39.490 --> 00:54:40.200 Emily Polak: engagement. 286 00:54:43.440 --> 00:54:54.140 Margaux Johnson-Green: Thank you all for that additional context. And I think it's great, Kelly, that you mentioned the Board of Elections. As a resource, because it does seem like there are some state by state nuances there. 287 00:54:54.794 --> 00:55:16.839 Margaux Johnson-Green: And I think we just have one more question. With the remainder of our time. And just thinking a little bit more big picture. I know that a Presidential election year is incredibly important and definitely galvanizes people into action. Especially when it comes to voter registration. But for those years that aren't presidential election years, or 288 00:55:17.270 --> 00:55:31.720 Margaux Johnson-Green: past election day, how can we continue to keep the momentum going? To keep people typically engaged so that they're able to continue to make that connection between civic engagement and their personal health. 289 00:55:35.470 --> 00:55:52.660 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: I I can hop in 1st cause in Kentucky actually next year. And I looked it up just to make sure had my years right, but next year is one of our off years. We are gubernatorial cycle is one of, I think, 2 or 3 nationally, that is still 290 00:55:53.346 --> 00:56:02.280 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: not during a presidential midterm or presidential election cycle. And so every so often we have a year where there's not any 291 00:56:02.470 --> 00:56:07.080 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: major elections on the ballot, and 2025 is one of those. 292 00:56:07.460 --> 00:56:19.969 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: however, as a part of all of our continuing education efforts, civic engagement, and advocacy around those sorts of tools will not stop it. Has not been excluded 293 00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:24.429 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: in past non election years in Kentucky for us? 294 00:56:24.680 --> 00:56:26.040 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: Because 295 00:56:26.290 --> 00:56:30.320 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: how many, how many people will turn 18 next year. 296 00:56:30.400 --> 00:56:45.449 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: How many people will move to Kentucky next year or move within Kentucky and need to update their voter registration? It is still just as important next year as it is any year for us. And I think, speaking to 297 00:56:45.610 --> 00:56:51.899 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: whatever the issues du jour that might be influencing people in an off year. 298 00:56:51.940 --> 00:56:57.489 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: we should honestly be a little more successful, because there doesn't seem to be as much pressure around it. 299 00:56:57.930 --> 00:57:04.649 Kelly Taulbee, KY Voices for Health: And we might be able to speak to it in terms where people want to just register to vote, knowing that they don't even have to vote yet. 300 00:57:07.160 --> 00:57:17.835 Chanda Freeman: And and I think off years are also a good opportunity to engage like your younger folks. Your high school students, who will be turning 18 before they graduate 301 00:57:18.516 --> 00:57:42.760 Chanda Freeman: and folks who are heading off to college. So one of the things that we do at Tjc. Is through our high school ambassadorship is we try to host voting parties and celebrations, you know, for folks who are gonna be voting for the 1st time. It's a big deal, you know, and the science also suggested, if we get folks to engage in the voting process in high school 302 00:57:42.760 --> 00:58:00.560 Chanda Freeman: that they're more likely to continue that through adulthood. So we also continue to host postcard parties and connect people put together report cards on how folks are doing so. I think there are lots of ways to continue to engage throughout the year. 303 00:58:01.380 --> 00:58:18.899 Emily Polak: And just lifting up local elections matter so much when it comes to health. It's it's your school board. It's your city council who make funding decisions about things related to different curricula, etc. The one other thing I would just lift up is 304 00:58:19.480 --> 00:58:24.660 Emily Polak: getting engaged and involved as an organization in an off cycle. Year 305 00:58:24.740 --> 00:58:51.290 Emily Polak: can come with it a little bit more. It's a little more palatable because it's less politicized. The energy is not what the heightened energy that we are all feeling and eating and breathing every day in this presidential electoral cycle. So, introducing the I idea of engaging in nonpartisan voter registration efforts in an off cycle year can make it feel that much easier, too. As as a small stepping stone for folks too. 306 00:58:54.600 --> 00:59:00.710 Margaux Johnson-Green: Thank you for all that. And I know we are right at time, so I think we can go ahead and wrap up. 307 00:59:01.079 --> 00:59:24.890 Margaux Johnson-Green: So thank you so much again to our speakers. I know that you all have hope, have dropped a host of great resources in the chat. So we will save the chat and send that out with any slides or recording of this presentation, so that folks can go back and take a look at those and thank you to everyone. For tuning in today. Really appreciate having you all 308 00:59:26.530 --> 00:59:27.380 Margaux Johnson-Green: take care.