Thank you to Healthy Democracy Healthy People for their strong partnership with MPHA's Policy & Advocacy Committee and MPHA members this legislative session! Check out the recap from HDHP's partner We Choose Us below, and stay tuned for opportunities to help with implementing the legislative wins! 

Outcomes of WCU Policy Priorities from 2023 Session …and what those policies mean for MN voters

The Democracy for the People Act has been actively making progress over the last two weeks and today (April 13th) was voted out of the House. This means that the bill only has to pass the Senate before it goes to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. We hope you are all taking a moment to celebrate this momentous occasion!

What's Next:

The Senate is now expected to vote on the policy in early May; we will update when a firm date has been officially announced.

What You Can Do:

Today - early May:

We Choose Us is asking organizations to send letters to the Senate in support of passing the Democracy for the People Act. MPHA's community can repurpose the letters we sent to committees earlier during the legislative session, that could be incredibly helpful in getting the final vote teed up.

Please cc: Gnora Gumanow (Gnora@hdhp.us), Healthy Democracy Healthy People's Partnerships Director on any letters sent to your senator.

Looking for an example of a published letter to the editor?

Thank you to Jaime Martinez, MPHA member whose letter to the editor was published in the March 8, 2023 edition of the Northeaster (page 2). Read "Act Would Give Voters More Say" here.

Thank you for engaging with our call to action! You can find more information and prompts at the Healthy Democracy Healthy People Media Guide. 

Sample Social Media Posts

• What does voting have to do with public health outcomes? A lot. Across a dozen key metrics, an analysis finds that more inclusive voting policies in Minnesota are linked to better health outcomes.
• Communities with higher civic participation–including voting rates–enjoy greater social cohesion, which is a health protective factor.
• Research shows a positive relationship between self agency and better health. When we vote, we strengthen this agency and help create better health for our communities.
• Communities that vote at higher rates enjoy better health outcomes–including infant and premature mortality, mental health, adult disability rates and self-reported health.
• States with better access to voting have lower rates of uninsured individuals. This is good news because lack of health insurance is associated with increased risk of chronic disease and mortality.
• States with better voting access enjoy better physical and mental health outcomes, and improved health disparities.

Email Prompts to your Elected Officials

To find who represents you in Minnesota, use this tool! Then, use this list of Minnesota state legislators to find their contact information. 

Option 1

As a public health professional/healthcare provider/physician/nurse, I’m asking you to support the Democracy for the People Act. Robust, democratic processes are vital for creating opportunities for health. Research from the Health & Democracy Index found that communities with high voter participation enjoy greater social cohesion and better health outcomes, including lower infant and premature mortality, adult disability rates, fewer poor mental health days and better self-reported health. Not only that, but states with better civic participation experience shrinking health disparities. In short, ensuring representative democratic decision making is also a necessary means to health equity.

Option 2

Those of us in public health know that community health and wellbeing would be considerably improved by the passage of HF3. Just last year the Minnesota Public Health Association passed its Voter Registration and Participation Resolution which supports policies like those included in the Democracy for the People Act. Like my fellow MPHA members, I urge you to support this bill because it will empower Minnesotans to create the opportunities for a healthy future for ourselves and our communities.

Option #3

As a constituent and a public health professional, I’m asking you to support the Democracy for the People Act. Communities that vote at higher rates enjoy better health outcomes, including lower infant and premature mortality, adult disability rates and better self-reported health. States with better access to voting also have lower rates of uninsured individuals. This is good news because lack of health insurance is associated with increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. When more eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in democracy, communities vote for representatives and policies that will improve the health of their communities.

Letter to the Editor Prompts

Option 1

As a public health professional/healthcare provider/physician/nurse, I know the Democracy for the People Act is good for democracy and good for community health. Robust, democratic processes are vital for creating opportunities for health. Research has found that communities with high voter participation enjoy greater social cohesion and better health outcomes, including lower infant and premature mortality, adult disability rates, fewer poor mental health days and better self-reported health. Not only that, but states with better civic participation experience shrinking health disparities. In short, ensuring representative democratic decision making is also a necessary means to health equity.

Option 2

Those of us in public health know that community health and wellbeing would be considerably improved by the Democracy for the People Act. Just last year the Minnesota Public Health Association passed its Voter Registration and Participation Resolution which supports policies like those included in the Democracy for the People Act. Like my fellow MPHA members, I know this bill will empower Minnesotans to create the opportunities for a healthy future for ourselves and our communities.

Option 3

As a public health professional, I’m excited and hopeful about the Democracy for the People Act. This bill strengthens our democracy, which strengthens our community’s opportunities for health. Communities that vote at higher rates enjoy better health outcomes, including lower infant and premature mortality, adult disability rates and better self-reported health. States with better access to voting also have lower rates of uninsured individuals. This is good news because lack of health insurance is associated with increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. When more eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in democracy, we vote for representatives and policies that will improve the health of their communities.

Democracy for People Lobby Day March 16^th, 12:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda. Support Automatic Voter Registration and other key pro-democracy policies by registering to attend the Democracy Lobby Day organized by We Choose Us.

Historic Voting Rights Restored for convicted felons upon leaving jail or prison! Read more from MPR's story: Minnesota’s largest voter-eligibility change in half century passes", February 21, 2023.