5 Tips to Help Your Pregnant or Postpartum Friend VOTE
In 2016, slightly less than 56% of the voting age population voted in the Presidential Election. (1) It’s no secret that the United States has one of the lowest voter turnouts of developed countries, trailing far behind other developed countries in voter turnout, such as Belgium with approximately 87% in 2014, and Sweden with about 82% that same year. (2)
In 2020, we are faced with combining the U.S.’s systemic barriers to voter turnout, (including registration rules and issues, time taken off work to vote, expensive child care costs, and general apathy/disengagement in the American political system), with a global pandemic. Facing each of these obstacles is challenge-enough, but can you imagine combining them with pregnancy or a new baby!?
While little research has been conducted on the direct relationship between pregnant or postpartum people and voter turnout, one study conducted in 2019 hypothesized;
“While the physical discomfort is usually most substantial just before the childbirth, the demobilizing psychological and fatigue-related factors must weigh in most intensely right after the child is born. Both would make the act of voting, including the trip to the polling station and waiting in line, simply less convenient and more costly. Parents experience a lack of time and commitment to the new child makes societal engagement simply difficult. Following childbirth, parents’ social networks might change to offer fewer occasions to discuss politics and to engage in politically relevant actions. Thus, for any or several of these reasons, women with ongoing or recent experiences of being pregnant and giving birth could at least temporarily lose interest in public issues and politics overall, especially just after the child is born.” (3)
For pregnant and postpartum people, and parents of young children, voting is all the more a challenge, and all the more important. With issues such as childcare costs, healthcare, and paid family leave at the top of many politician’s minds, it is a crucial time in American history to ensure our Mamas votes are casted.
If you are the friend or loved one of someone who is pregnant, postpartum, or a parent, here are Poppy Seed Health’s five tips for helping them vote:
1. Talk about it: Ask questions about their plan
Ask your friend about their plan to vote. Due to COVID-19, many states are allowing folx to vote absentee or early - check the laws for the state your friend resides in. If they plan to vote ‘normally’ on the day-of (Tuesday, November 3, 2020), see if and how you can assist with that process.
2. Help them check their registration and do their research
With consent, help your friend look up their voter registration status. Every state varies, but to do this, they’ll be directed to their state’s online lookup and need to input a few pieces of identifying information. From there, help your friend get educated on what to expect on their ballot. Researching all of the ballot details ahead of time can be daunting, and having it all laid out could be a big help.
3. Find their polling place or ballot drop off location
If your friend plans to vote:
Early: Help them find their early voting polling place
Absentee: Help them find a ballot dropoff, or give them a stamp to send their ballot back!
In-person: Tell them where their polling place is
4. Simply offer to lend a hand (and don’t forget the lasagna!)
Ask them what they need. Whether you can drive them to their polling place, keep them company in line (with a mask), watch their baby, or take one thing off their list for the day (hello, homemade lasagna), you’re still doing your part in helping a loved one fulfill their civic duty.
5. Support them through the results
Stress around the election can be challenging for anyone; for pregnant and postpartum people, though, stress can be dangerous. Ask your friend if they want to stay off of the news during election week - if they’d like to receive a simple call from you with the results, rather than finding out on social media or The Situation Room. From there, check-in with your loved one to see how they’re coping with election results - a lot is on the line!