Dear Home Health Providers,
Every day, the home health community treats patients who are unable to leave their homes and participate in activities such as voting in the upcoming November elections. Realizing the opportunity that we have to help our patients and their families, the home health community is offering a voluntary initiative dedicated to assisting senior citizens as well as other home health recipients to exercise their right to vote. We hope you will participate in Bring the Vote Home 2012.
The campaign is being supported by our state home health association along with other national and state home health organizations. It is important to note this campaign is not targeted toward any particular party, candidate, ideology, or issue. Nor are we able to assist patients with completing, collecting and mailing election registration/application documents. (Please note that in some states clinicians can help beneficiaries complete and send in their voting materials, while in other states they cannot. Please consult your state page on the BTVH website to learn more about the rules governing your state.)
We should, however, remind our patients that they have an opportunity to participate in the election process, and encourage them to vote.
Our voter registration services are available without regard to political preference. Information and other assistance regarding registration or voting shall not be withheld or refused on the basis of support for or opposition to particular candidates or a particular party.
Overview of the Campaign:
The Bring the Vote Home (BTVH) campaign is a national effort to support and enable our patients, their families, and our employees to participate in state and federal elections. Our website, at http://www.bringthevotehome.org/, provides an overview on the campaign as well as state-specific information.
How Would Your Agency Support the Campaign?
To assist with the process of informing your patients about the campaign and assisting patients with taking part in the election process, the BTVH website provides the following documents, which your clinicians will provide to their patients:
- A patient cover letter, which explains the initiative when visiting the patient’s home. Click here for beneficiary cover letter.
- A voter registration form as allowed by your state. Each state’s requirements and procedures vary.
- An absentee ballot request form (if available). Again, please see state-specific requirements.
Our clinicians do not need to discuss the elections or provide any materials specific to a candidate. It is actually preferable that they do not engage to ensure the campaign is completely independent.
Important Do’s and Don’ts:
Please be aware of the following Do’s and Don’ts. Please also note that there may be additional considerations that are state-specific which are noted in the Voting in Your State section of the BTVH website.
DO:
• Encourage colleagues, patients, and family members to register to vote and, if eligible, to request an absentee ballot.
• Explain and emphasize the importance of voting and how easily it can be done from home.
• Encourage colleagues, patients and family members to visit the Bring the Vote Home website to learn more about candidates’ stances and positions on home healthcare
DO NOT:
• Recommend, endorse, or encourage support for one candidate or party over another.
• Tell the people you’re registering which party to register under or who to vote for.
• Coordinate activities with a candidate or campaign or political party.
• Target your registration efforts toward any particular ideological group, party or issue.
Home Health Employee Engagement:
This campaign also provides an opportunity for our employees to register to vote as well. Each home health agency should inform their employees about the campaign and the opportunity for them to register and participate as well. The same forms may be used for your employees.
Thank you for supporting this important initiative. We are excited to help our patients participate in the election process this year and exercise their right to vote.
