By Debra Emery, BS, CCM, CBIS

September 17 is National Voter Registration Day (NVRD). It is a nonpartisan, civic holiday dedicated to ensuring all eligible citizens are registered to vote, and their voices can be heard in local, state, and national elections. Since its creation in 2012, National Voter Registration Day has engaged communities nationwide by providing individuals with the resources and information they need to register to vote and encouraging participation in upcoming elections.

According to the Pew Research Center, two-thirds of the voting-eligible population cast their ballots in 2020, the highest turnout since 1900. Local elections see a steep dropoff, at an average below 20%, with state-wide elections hovering around 40 – 50%. Even with turnout at its highest point in over 100 years, the US sits at the bottom of the list of developing countries for voter turnout.

The Public Policy Committee encourages CMSA members to make their voices heard on behalf of case managers and our patients. The Committee interacts with legislators and policymakers to help them understand case managers' impact on health care, guides and supports CMSA chapters in educating and mobilizing members in the public policy arena, and educates CMSA members on public policy matters relevant to case managers.

Our goal is to promote the mission of CMSA by serving as a communication and educational resource for health policy issues related to the professional practice of case management. Through initiatives like our annual Day on the Hill, we meet with elected officials and health policy staff to discuss legislation important to our community. Through our advocacy, we have witnessed improvements in the quality, accessibility, and transparency of our healthcare systems.

However, the easiest and most impactful advocacy is through voting. We invite you to celebrate National Voter Registration Day with us on September 17.

This is our call to action for you on National Voter Registration Day:

• Register to vote! Visit vote.gov to learn more about your eligibility and how to register to vote in the next election.
• Check your voter registration status. Use a resource like vote.org to check your status and voting location and how to update your information if necessary.
• Familiarize yourself with your state's voter registration deadlines. Each state has different deadlines, and some may even offer same-day registration.  
• Have conversations with your friends, family, and community about the importance of voting and share information on how to register if needed. The requirements for registration in your state can be found at vote.gov/register.

Case managers act as advocates for our patients every day. Our job is to be a voice for those we care for and ensure they receive the best outcome possible. As citizens of the United States, we can do the same through local, state, and federal elections.

If you want change to happen, make your voice heard.

For more information on voter registration and the 2024 Elections, visit vote.gov.

Interested in advocacy? For more information on how you can get involved, go to https://cmsa.org/advocacy/public-policy/

Bio: Debra Emery, BS, CCM, CBIS, is the Chair of CMSA’s Public Policy Committee and Vice President of the Detroit Chapter. She is an independent case manager specializing in catastrophic injury.