Kaiser Permanente supports National Voter Registration Day

Kaiser Permanente is joining National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan, national effort to ensure every eligible American is registered to vote for the 2020 general election.

Every year millions of Americans are unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration, or aren’t sure how to register. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made these challenges more difficult. Kaiser Permanente is partnering with National Voter Registration Day to promote voting and civic engagement among our more than 12.4 million members and more than 217,000 employees and physicians.

“Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. Encouraging every eligible American to register and vote is key to ensuring full representation of all communities,” said Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Greg A. Adams. “Kaiser Permanente is committed to building vibrant, thriving, healthy communities and we know that health and representation are strongly linked.”

First observed in 2012, National Voter Registration Day was established to help Americans exercise their most basic right: the right to vote. Celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of September, National Voter Registration Day 2020 will take place on September 22. The observance is endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State, the National Association of State Election Directors, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and the National Association of Election Officials.

Organizations across the country support National Voter Registration Day through coordinated efforts to register voters and raise awareness of state-specific registration policies, deadlines, and voting information. These efforts have helped register nearly 3 million voters. To learn how to register in your state, visit the National Voter Registration Day website.

“By our estimates, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a loss of 2 million new voter registrations per month as DMVs shutter and in-person efforts are put on hold,” said Lauren Kunis, program director of National Voter Registration Day. “We can’t let that stand in the way of enabling as many people who wish to exercise their civic right to vote this fall. We are grateful to have Kaiser Permanente join us in our effort to get every eligible citizen registered and ready to vote on this year’s National Voter Registration Day on September 22.”

In addition to raising awareness about voter registration, Kaiser Permanente is committed to amplifying voter safety information to help keep all people healthy. We encourage voters to avoid lines and crowds whenever possible and exercise COVID-19 precautions if they choose to vote in person.