This perspective is from WBUR by Ali S. Raja and Ben Ruxin:

Our country is stuck in a startling paradox: in poll after poll, Americans say healthcare is their single most important issue, yet 51 million forego a considerable amount of power in shaping our nation’s health policy — because they aren’t registered to vote. The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened this paradox: the importance of our health system is startlingly clear, while registering to vote is harder than ever.

During this painful and challenging time, Americans have put their trust in healthcare providers. Hospitals, doctors and nurses have earned a higher approval rating than any other industry since the pandemic began. After six months of witnessing the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on Black, brown and low-income Americans, healthcare providers are not only working to reinforce this trust, but also to extend it beyond hospital and clinic walls by emphasizing the importance of civic engagement in improving health outcomes for everyone.

Historically, healthcare providers have voted at lower rates than the general population. But this year is shaping up to be different — doctors, nurses, social workers and their colleagues are taking action, and inspiring others to do the same.

Read the full article here.