The national election scene is in high gear. Election concerns are grabbing our attention and occupying premium space in our conversations and activities. I’m reminded of the recent 2020 and 2022 elections, and remembering the impressive voter mobilization drives implemented in social work schools and agencies.
In 2019, professional social workers and schools of social work created the national social work voter mobilization campaign Voting is Social Work. The campaign is based on the concept that voter accessibility and engagement are key to a healthy democracy. Voting is Social Work recognizes the power of integrating educational activities about nonpartisan voter engagement into social work education and practice. The campaign not only offers extensive classroom resources, but also provides resources for students and faculty to use in field placement sites. Resources address the promotion of civic engagement and voter mobilization at community field placements (https://votingissocialwork.org/field-education-toolkit). The Voting is Social Work campaign reminds us that students, field instructors, and field liaisons can take the lead in such initiatives. Furthermore, activities and learning associated with voting are easily linked to macro curriculum and EPAS competencies.
Another timely resource is the Field Educator article Voting is Social Work: What Field Educators Need to Know (Munn et al., 2019), which posits that field educators are uniquely positioned to assist voter mobilization efforts through their broad range of connections with community placement sites. Revisit this article for practical suggestions on how to collaborate with your field agencies to advance voter accessibility.
There are also many national organizations tackling the barriers marginalized peoples encounter while attempting to register to vote. One national nonprofit is VoteRiders (https://www.voteriders.org), a nonpartisan volunteer organization with a mission to help citizens break through bureaucratic barriers to obtain state identification documents needed to register. These documents, now required in 38 states, are costly and often complicated to request. Undue burden falls on low-income women and returning citizens. VoteRiders pays for identification documents and helps people cut through red tape. This organization and others provide rich learning opportunities for students.
And finally, don’t forget: National Voter Registration Day is September 17, 2024 (https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org).
Share your field department’s voter registration activities with the Field Educator. We want to hear from you!
Munn, A., Fischer, A., Lewis, B., Okuda, K. (Fall 2019). Voting is social work: What field educators need to know. Field Educator. 9.2, https://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/article/voting-is-social-work-what-field-educators-need-to-know/