Vote with Pandia Health

Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH – Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team

The 2020 presidential election is turning out to be one of the most contentious moments in United States political history. Election Day, which takes place on Tuesday, November 3rd, is right around the corner, and we are here to arm you with the facts and resources to help make voting day as easy as possible and guide you through some vital information.

Why You Should Vote

With issues of racial injustice, women’s reproductive rights, and accessibility to affordable healthcare at the forefront of the 2020 election, it is crucial to exercise your right to vote. Voting allows you to have a say over how these issues will be dealt with – your vote DOES matter and CAN make a difference. 

Think of it this way: If 3 million people had the ideology that their voice did not count, then that would be 3 million people who could’ve made the difference in a swing state like Wisconsin. 

The popular vote, which is made by qualified voters as opposed to the electoral college does not decide the presidential election winner. This means that, even if a presidential candidate has a greater share of the votes, this does not guarantee a win for that individual. Still, states have a certain number of electoral votes, which is based on each state’s congressional representation, and your vote contributes to the candidate the electoral votes go to. 

Voting + Reproductive Justice and Health

Separation of church and state is a fundamental principle and interpretation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. However, many senators and other policymakers allow their religious beliefs to guide their decision-making processes when making laws that affect a woman’s right over her own body. It was not too long ago that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision to allow one’s employer or university to deny birth control coverage based on their religious or moral objection. 

By voting for a candidate, you are supporting their beliefs and policies (even if you don’t agree with everything that person stands for). Congress and the Senate both vote for federal lawmakers who affect your reproductive healthcare; a recent example is the nomination and confirmation of Amy Coney Barett to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

We need officials who will fund women’s healthcare initiatives, not de-fund them. Pandia Health is all about making birth control accessible and affordable for all. We need people in office who uplift our mission and support us in making women’s lives easier, one birth control pill pack at a time.

Vote like your life depends on it because, in many ways, it does. 

Resources for Learning About Issues and Candidates

When you vote to elect our nation’s next president, it is not as simple as filling in one bubble sheet and calling it a day. It can be easy to get caught up in only paying attention to the presidential race but remember you are also voting for other elected officials like judges and senators. It is essential to read up on candidates running for local positions like your state’s assembly, your state’s supreme court, and family court judges within your town. 

To find out which races are occurring in your area, check out Vote 411, a resource provided by The League of Women Voters Education Fund. This site creates a personalized voting guide by laying out every candidate who is running, making a side-by-side policy comparison, and providing links to videos of debates between national and local candidates. 

You can also check out these resources below:

• Vote.org
  • If you need to know where a ballot box is located, where your polling location is, or verify that you are registered to vote, check out Vote.org. It also has an election reminders feature to ensure you remember to vote and that you know when and where you have to go.

• U.S. Election Assistance Committee
  • The U.S. has an official government committee dedicated to helping you vote. One of the fantastic features of this resource is that at the very top of the site, there is an FAQ document you can download AND an option for language translations at the top – yay inclusivity! It lays out everything you need to know, such as info about early voting and absentee voting, in an efficient and simple way so you don’t have to click through multiple links to get the information you need. If you are a military personnel or overseas voter, there is information available for you here, too; and, if you are concerned about accessibility, this site has resources for you as well.

• When We All Vote
  • When We All Vote markets itself as the “one-stop shop to register to vote, request your ballot, make your plan to vote, and more.” When We All Vote makes it easy to get informed on voting; it also has other cool resources like an events page to find an event near you to help get the word out about voting. Plus, they have merch you never knew you needed so you can rock your politics in a laid back, hipster style.

#VoteWithPandia

Join us in donning your best women empowerment attire to the polls on election day. Better yet, if you have any Pandia Health merch (or swag items from your birth control delivery package), wear it and tag us on Instagram showing us your outfit! 

Remember to practice social distancing, wear a mask, and be aware of your surroundings when you go vote

Right now, it is easy to be overwhelmed with the state of our nation and world. Voting allows you to take control of the chaos and voice your concerns in a proactive and safe way. Share on your social media using #WhyIVote to help raise awareness about the importance of voting. 

⭐Your vote MATTERS, so stand up for your rights and use your voice!⭐