Voting Matters - Alameda County Public Health Department

We engage Alameda County residents, especially Public Health Department clients, in voting and other civic participation activities that empower them to make informed decisions on issues that affect their communities, including health. Voting Matters was developed in early 2016 by the Alameda County Public Health Department’s Legislative Council, in response to persistent trends of low voter registration and more recent downturns in voter turnout among Alameda County residents. Voting Matters is working to reverse these trends and increase voter engagement among residents County-wide—especially among those residents who belong to historically disenfranchised communities. Voting Matters believes that everyone—no matter who they are—should have the opportunity to reach their highest level of health. More and more research shows that health is influenced by the conditions we live in and the experiences we have. And policy--the laws passed by our government representatives and the choices our representatives make about how to spend our tax dollars--shapes those living conditions and experiences. Housing, education, access to jobs and economic opportunity, and even the design of our cities, all have a large impact on our ability to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Your Voice:
Your voice is your power. We use our voices to express our beliefs. We share our experiences with one another and build community. We speak out in the face of injustice and inequality. And we communicate what resources we need to make our communities healthy and strong. Your Vote:
Your vote matters. Voting is one of the most important ways to make our voices, and the voices of our communities, heard. When we vote, we choose who will represent us and our values at every level of government. We tell our representatives what we need to be safe, healthy, and happy. We hold elected officials accountable for following through on their promises to us. Often, we determine policy ourselves, deciding what laws we want to live by or how public resources should be distributed throughout our communities. The Alameda County Public Health Department knows that a healthy community is a community that votes. That’s why Voting Matters is committed to helping Alameda County residents improve their health—by weighing in on the issues that matter to them and casting a ballot!