DR. KANIKA TOMALIN | President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
Election Day is just days away on Tuesday, November 5th. This year’s election includes important choices for representation at every level of government, from city council to president of the United States, as well as ballot questions that stand to help shape our individual and collective quality of life.
Your vote makes a difference in every single race.
This Election Day, I urge you to join me in voting. Our democracy thrives when we participate in the polls, and voting is one of the most important ways we can be free, seen, and heard in America.
Voting is also good for – and critical to – our health. Studies show that communities with higher voter turnout are healthier and more equitable. The relationship between voting and health is reciprocal; our personal health can impact our ability to vote, and the act of voting can also impact our health outcomes.
We know that our health is shaped by so much more than the quality of medical care we receive. It’s determined by the conditions and environments where we are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. Together, these factors are known as the social determinants of health. Voting is one such crucial determinant.
When we vote, we help elect leaders to serve in our government and make decisions about what our communities look like and how they function. The choices we make at the polls affect every aspect of our social environment, from our educational opportunities to our availability and expectations for jobs, to the conditions of our local neighborhoods and community spaces, and so much more. When we vote, we help shape our social environment. Our social environment, in turn, shapes our health.
Research shows that groups who are less likely to vote, including young people, those who are economically disadvantaged, and people of color, are more likely to be negatively impacted by policy decisions. And those who do vote are more likely to enjoy an improved sense of social well-being and connectedness within their communities.
Please, make sure your vote is counted on November 5th. A voting plan is a great way to do so:
- First, check your voter registration status to make sure you’re registered to vote. You can do this at VotePinellas.gov.
- Then, decide how you’re going to vote – in person on November 5th or through early voting. If you plan to vote in person on Election Day, you can find your voting precinct here.
- Next, figure out the details and navigate any barriers you might face. If you’re voting in person, do you need a ride to the polls? What time do you plan to get there? What form of ID will you bring? Answering these questions ahead of time can help ensure your vote is counted and your voice is heard.
- Finally, vote! Exercise your right and responsibility to help shape our community and our country.
Your voice and vote are crucial to our shared health and our future. Our community thrives when all of its members participate and are heard, so please make sure your vote is counted.
I’ll see you at the polls!
Dr. Kanika Tomalin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. In this role, she leads, directs, and integrates all aspects of the Foundation’s internal and external activities and initiatives. Working closely with the Foundation team, Dr. Tomalin creates and executes the Foundation’s strategic plan—overseeing grantmaking, strategic initiatives, and the Center for Health Equity. She guides the organization as a steward of the community’s resources, consistently reporting back to the community and ensuring decisions and plans of action are mission-aligned and based in equity.
