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Dr. Lindley expressed deep concern over the implications of this initiative, especially for vulnerable populations. “Yes, because the Vot-ER group that you just mentioned was founded by Dr. Alister Martin and actually has a script for undocumented patients on how to register to vote,” Lindley explained. The notion that undocumented immigrants could be encouraged to register to vote through this platform raises serious questions about election integrity.
Lindley went on to highlight a disturbing trend she’s noticed in the medical community. “Interestingly, a few days before I found out about this, there was a tweet from an anonymous physician on the West Coast… who said that if she treats Conservatives, she often misdiagnoses them and gives them the wrong treatment. Just that lets you know that there’s no reason for any physicians to know the political status of our patients.” This anecdote underscores the dangers of intertwining politics with healthcare, where impartiality should be the standard.
Basile then touched on the risk of manipulation in this new voting push, especially among patients who may lack the mental capacity to make informed decisions. “That’s a very real concern in the state of Pennsylvania, where at least one psychiatric hospital has been exposed for registering patients,” Basile pointed out. Lindley agreed, adding that there have been instances of psychiatric patients being registered to vote in such facilities, which raises ethical concerns about their capacity to understand and consent to this process.
Lindley also emphasized the potential for abuse in various healthcare settings. “They are doing this in oncology centers, in substance abuse centers, in the ER… all of these centers, what they have in common is you’re at your most vulnerable state,” she noted. “And they are taking advantage of this state to say, ‘Oh, it’s really important for you to register. It’s going to make you feel better.’” Such tactics, according to Lindley, are both unethical and potentially illegal.
Further fueling the controversy is the involvement of taxpayer-funded health centers in this voter registration push. Dr. Martin, who leads Vot-ER, also serves on the Health and Human Services (HHS) advisory panel on outreach to vulnerable patient communities. According to Lindley, two Vot-ER staffers were present at a meeting with the Executive Office of the President, the Department of Justice, and other agencies regarding the Executive Order on “Promoting Access to Voting.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Nurses Association, and the Association of American Medical Colleges have all expressed support for this initiative. They encourage clinicians to ask patients whether they plan to vote and provide them with voter registration information. This effort is backed by HHS, which is encouraging federally funded health centers to participate in voter registration activities.
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The involvement of these organizations has led many to question the true motives behind this initiative. “Medicine should be apolitical,” Lindley asserted. Yet, the Biden administration’s push to integrate voter registration into healthcare raises significant concerns about the potential for political bias in patient care.
While Vot-ER claims to be a “non-partisan group,” its ties to the Biden-Harris administration and the Democratic Party’s broader agenda suggest otherwise. The group has already helped over 50,000 physicians register patients to vote, all under the banner of President Biden’s Executive Order on “Promoting Access to Voting.” The sources of funding for this initiative remain unclear, adding to the suspicion surrounding this controversial effort.
As the 2024 election approaches, the push to involve doctors in voter registration is likely to become a hot-button issue. With the integrity of the electoral process at stake, the question remains: Should healthcare professionals be in the business of registering patients to vote? For many, the answer is a resounding no.
