On National Voter Registration Day, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics took part in an initiative called Vot-ER to encourage civic engagement and voter registration.
The League of Women Voters, represented by Claire Van Blaricum, emphasized the importance of voter registration. The initiative aimed to motivate people to register to vote, check their registration status, and help them update their information if needed.
Gabriel Estrada, a prospective medical student working at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, realized he needed to transfer his voter registration from Los Angeles County to Santa Barbara County. This led him to participate in the Vot-ER initiative.
Dr. Anu Sharma, a pediatrician at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, spearheaded the local Vot-ER initiative last year and continues to empower her patients through this engagement. She believes there is a direct connection between voting and patient health, as every policy decision can impact healthcare.
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and the League of Women Voters partnered this year to reach a wider audience. They recognized that individuals visiting neighborhood clinics may not have obtained automatic voter registration through the Motor Voter Act, particularly those without driver’s licenses. The goal was to provide an opportunity for people to express themselves through voting.
Van Blaricum highlighted the significance of each vote, citing an example where a Santa Barbara City Council District election in 2019 was decided by a margin of only eight votes. To make decisions in a democracy, it is crucial that everyone participates.
Voter registration was made easy through QR codes, ensuring a seamless process for those visiting the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and the Bridge Clinic on National Voter Registration Day.
Source: Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, League of Women Voters
