Feb. 24, 2020 – As the country prepares for a national election on Nov. 3, the Coalition for Healthcare Communication is endorsing the nonpartisan “Time to Vote” initiative developed by a coalition of U.S. companies that seeks to ensure that all employees have a work schedule that allows them to vote in elections.

“Politics is not a spectator sport, and the Coalition believes it is important for all Americans to be active in the political process,” said Coalition Executive Director Jon Bigelow. “What happens in Washington and the state capitals matters to health communicators,” he said.

Companies supporting the Time to Vote initiative represent more than 2 million workers and recognize that “one of the most common reasons people give for not voting is that they’re too busy with the demands of work and life,” according to a Feb. 21 Time to Vote press release.

To address this barrier and increase voter participation, CEOs and business owners commit to making accommodations for workers that help enable them to vote, such as paid time off on Election Day, making Election Day a day without meetings or providing resources for mail-in ballots and early voting. There is no cost to join.

“When the business community comes together to take a stand on issues that affect all Americans, it sends a powerful message,” said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, a leading nonpartisan voice on voting rights and elections. “Ultimately, a culture shift will meaningfully boost voter participation, and business leaders can help drive that shift.”

To date, 383 companies employing workers in every state have signed up for Time to Vote. The 2020 Time to Vote goal is to sign up 1,000 businesses.

“We endorse the Time to Vote initiative and encourage our member organizations, and all companies in the health communications field, to participate by making it easier for their staff to have time to vote in primaries and the general election in November,” CHC’s Bigelow said.