Today is the first day of National Public Health Week 2024. Today’s focus is Civic Engagement.
Civic engagement, the actions that we and our communities take to identify and address problems, shapes our opportunities to be healthy. By taking actions to get more civically engaged, like voting, we exercise our right to make decisions about our communities. Studies show that in states where people are more civically engaged and vote more, public health outcomes are better. Another study indicated that states with more inclusive voting policies and fewer barries to voting have better health outcomes.
What can you do? Vote, and encourage your friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote. Encourage your workplace and organizations to be voter-friendly. Learn about voting policies in your state.