Health & Democracy Minnesota Partners
The Health & Democracy Minnesota Initiative — a statewide independent, nonpartisan coalition of public health and healthcare individuals and organizations — advocates for the protection and strengthening of participation in democracy as a critical driver of population health. Our goal is to engage organizations and individuals from the health sector to build and protect a robust and inclusive democracy that supports the health of all Minnesotans.
Background & Impact to Date
2022 - Having witnessed the critical importance of safe and accessible voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of committed health leaders came together to shine a light on the importance of voting for health. Using data from the Health and Democracy Index, we sought to tell the story of how voting and health are linked: states with inclusive and accessible voting policies experience better health outcomes.
2023 - We began to put the story of voting & health into policy action in support of Minnesota’s landmark voting rights policy, the 2023 Democracy for the People Act. We also continued to build awareness by encouraging voting in local elections and presenting at state and national conferences.
2024 - Knowing that the healthcare sector as a whole has lower voter turnout than the general population, we made an internal call to action within the healthcare sector through the We Will Vote MN campaign. We called upon individuals and organizations in the health sector to demonstrate their own commitment to inclusive and accessible voting. More than 18 health organizations and thousands of individual health professionals in MN pledged to vote and encourage others to vote in the 2024 election.
Current Efforts
Strengthen the health sector’s understanding of the connection between population health and voting, civic engagement, and an inclusive democracy.
Expand and strengthen coalition relationships and partnerships
Provide opportunities for those in the health sector throughout the state to individually and collectively strengthen their capacity, build power, and serve as leaders in supporting a strong democracy.
Organize health sector professionals to support a strong democracy through narrative, research and data analysis, as well as strategic actions.
Current Minnesota Health & Democracy Partners
Advocates for Better Health (ABH)
Community Health Worker Concepts (CHW Concepts)
Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA)
Minnesota Society for Public Health Education (MN-SOPHE)
Faculty leaders from MN State Colleges and Universities
Our Current Initiatives
Interested in establishing a Health & Democracy Partnership in your state or locality? Reach out to Gnora Mahs at gnora@responsivegov.org to learn more!