General election season is around the corner. Elections are a cornerstone of our democracy and hopefully by now, it’s obvious they have significant consequences on our lives. But before you cast your vote, it’s important to learn about the people looking to represent you and your community.

First things first: Find out who is on your ballot. Then get to know your candidates by looking at their platforms online, getting on their mailing list, learning what issues they care about, and asking them hard questions (examples below). Find out how they will make health care and housing more accessible to low-income people and how they will address homelessness.

Go to them. You can speak with your candidates at local town halls, community meetings, and campaign events. Some hold online events and most are active on social media. You can also do your own research to find out more about their positions and records. This is your opportunity to choose who makes decisions for our communities.

Candidates should be prepared to answer your questions, with health care, housing, and homelessness being critical issue areas. Health care costs remain a major concern for voters as 62% of adults say they’re worried about being able to afford health care costs. On the housing front, 63% of adults are worried about being able to afford housing and homelessness continues to rise across the country.

Below are questions to ask candidates about the issues most relevant to the HCH community. They are phrased in a neutral way so the candidate’s response is not biased about what they THINK you want to hear. Think critically about their responses and ask follow up questions to clarify answers. Evaluate what you thought about their response and how it represents your own values and lived experience. Is this someone you want representing you and your community?

Remember, things only change when we participate in our democracy, including through voting in elections.

Voter Registration Resources for HCH Programs

Check to see if you are registered, register to vote, or request an absentee ballot from your state here. You can also find additional resources here, including a Vot-ER badge with QR codes to help patients vote.

Suggested Questions to Ask Candidates Running for Office

Candidates for Federal Office

• How will you increase affordable housing in our country, especially for low-income people?
• How will you fix the health care system so that everyone can afford health insurance?
• The President’s Executive Order “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” calls on states to take a stricter approach to addressing homelessness – what is your position on this?

Candidates Running for State Office

• How will you increase affordable housing in our state, especially for low-income people?
• What is your strategy for managing the state’s Medicaid program considering recent federal changes?
• States across the country have passed laws that make it a crime to sleep in public spaces. Is this something you would support in our state?

Candidates for Local/Municipal Office

• How will you increase affordable housing in our state, especially for low-income people?
• How would you handle encampments and unsheltered homelessness in our community?
• What role should the local government play in responding to public health concerns such as homelessness, mental health, and substance use?

Related Readings

• The Voters Health Care Reaches | Grant Makers in Health
• Democrats eye expanded Medicare coverage if they take U.S. House | Washington Post (gift link)
• They Worked To Protect Public Health. Now They Want the Public’s Votes. | KFF