Planned Parenthood launches voter registration campaign: Your Rights. Your Vote. Your Future.

On National Voter Registration Day, Planned Parenthood is launching a civic engagement campaign, Your Rights. Your Vote. Your Future., in at least 18 states with 30 Planned Parenthood affiliates participating across the country.

The goal is to encourage people to make their voices heard on Election Day regardless of their background, beliefs, or political ideology. 

Planned Parenthood volunteers will be helping people register to vote in their local communities — including visitors to Planned Parenthood health centers. Participants will also be asked to fill out pledge cards so that Planned Parenthood can mail them a reminder to vote on Election Day prior to their local election.

A statement from Naomi Aberly, chair of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America board of directors:

“Voting matters. To live in a true democracy where all voices are heard and represented, everyone must be able to exercise her right to vote. This is just as important in midterm elections as it is in presidential elections. Who we put in office influences our everyday lives and the policies that affect us most.

“Planned Parenthood understands that voting is fundamental to our democracy. That’s why we’re launching our civic engagement campaign: Your Rights. Your Vote. Your Future. We are here to help you register to vote and make sure your voice is heard this election.” 

Planned Parenthood health centers see 2.4 million patients annually. Many of these people are young people, people of color, and families with low incomes — the same people who face hurdles to participating in the political process. These barriers to participation hurt our democracy.  

Planned Parenthood organizations are positioned to help get people from all walks of life registered to vote. As part of this campaign, we will make important information available to visitors — including ways to register to vote, election deadline dates and polling information, and pledge card options to remind folks to turn out on Election Day. 

A statement from Ambalika Williams, patient advocacy program manager, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“This campaign engages the entire community. Our volunteers will go door to door in neighborhoods near Planned Parenthood health centers to register folks to vote — regardless of political party or preference — and encourage them to pledge to vote this November.  For our democracy to work, everyone should be able to exercise her right to vote.  

“We are working with our local affiliates to support voter registration training with our volunteer leaders and local education teams. Together, we will help recruit volunteer leaders of all ages to expand our civic engagement efforts and partner with patient advocates, peer educators, and supporters to set up voter registration tables at local establishments.”

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) reports in 2016 that 46 million young people ages 18-29 are eligible to vote, making up 21 percent of the voting eligible population in the U.S. There are also 58 million Latinos in the country; many are young citizens, with 66,000 Latinos turning 18 years old every month. 

Engaging both young people and Latinos is important to a healthy democracy That’s why we’re working with our Planned Parenthood Generation campus groups across the country to assist in these voter registration efforts, as well as making a special effort to register members of the Latino community through our Tus Derechos. Tu Voto. Tu Futuro. Spanish-language civic engagement campaign.