Brown Health ensures hospitalized patients can still vote. Posted: Nov 2, 2026 / 06:01 PM EST Updated: Nov 2, 2026 / 09:00 PM EST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Unexpected hospital stays can upend all kinds of plans. But what happens when someone suddenly can't get to the ballot box on Election Day? To help patients fulfill their civic duty, Brown University Health partnered with Vot-ER and handed out emergency ballot applications at each of its hospitals late last week. A group of Brown medical students set up a table to inform people about the process and their rights as voters. "We did two days this week, just educating our patients, our families, staff, all about patient voting and that they can vote from the hospital bed, because it's just as important as you're out in the community," Brown University Health Patient Experience Manager Kelsey Martin told 12 News. The students had until 4 p.m. Monday to deliver those applications to the canvassing boards in the city or town where the patients live. On Tuesday, the Board of Elections will then send workers to bring patients their ballots so they can vote without having to leave the hospital. "They will not have assistance in filling out the ballot. That is up to the patient on what they want to do," Martin added. "We want to make sure that this is a clean process and we're following all Rhode Island state statutes." Election 2026: Complete Coverage and Resources | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | Daily roundup.

Physician advocacy during election season. The midterm election season is here, and Minnesota family physicians can play an important role in promoting civic engagement and advocating for their patients and communities. The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offer opportunities for physicians to support legislative priorities, encourage civic participation and get involved in the political process. Your voice as a family physician matters and can make a difference in the health of your community. Promote civic engagement. Family physicians can promote civic engagement in several ways, including supporting nonpartisan voter registration efforts among colleagues and talking with patients about the importance of participating in elections. Participate in local elections. The Minnesota Public Health Association highlights the connection between voting and health, noting that local elections affect many aspects of everyday life, including public health and housing. Family physicians can help remove barriers to participation by discussing the importance of local elections with patients in a nonpartisan way. Engage in Civic Health Month. August is Civic Health Month, an opportunity to highlight the connection between civic participation and health. Vot-ER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that partners with the AAFP, offers resources physicians can use to engage patients in civic health discussions. The AAFP, the American Medical Association (AMA) and others have long advocated for physicians to ask their patients about voting to prioritize equity. Take part as a private citizen. This election year, every seat in the Minnesota Legislature is on the ballot. Whether speaking with incumbents seeking reelection or candidates running for office, family physicians have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of health care in Minnesota. As frontline physicians, family doctors see firsthand the policies that help patients thrive and the barriers that make it harder for individuals and communities to access care. By sharing real-world experiences and patient-centered perspectives, family physicians can help elected officials better understand the opportunities and challenges facing Minnesota's health care system and inform decisions that strengthen the health of its state. Attend district meetings and town halls. Beyond encouraging patients to vote, family physicians can take an active, nonpartisan role in the political process themselves. Members of Congress typically spend more time in their home states and districts in August, creating one of the year's best opportunities to attend a district meeting or town hall and share how policy decisions affect patient care. Learn about candidates. For a nonpartisan look at the candidates on the ballot, the League of Women Voters Minnesota hosts candidate forums across the state throughout the election season. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or party, and local chapters welcome volunteers to help organize and staff these events. Serve as an election judge. Family physicians looking for a hands-on, nonpartisan way to serve can also apply to become an election judge. Minnesota needs nearly 30,000 election judges statewide to help run the primary and general election, and state law allows election judges to take time off work to serve without losing pay. Understand your rights as a physician. Physicians have the same political rights and freedoms as any other citizen. The AMA's Code of Medical Ethics affirms that physicians may lobby for political parties or candidates and get involved with campaigns of their choosing. Family physicians who choose to participate in this kind of individual political activity are encouraged to do so as private citizens, keeping it separate from their professional role and patient care responsibilities. Get involved in Family Medicine Advocacy. Plug into MAFP advocacy. Join the MAFP's Family Medicine Advocacy Day on February 4, 2027, and connect directly with legislators about issues affecting your patients and practice. Throughout the year, the MAFP also provides opportunities to engage in advocacy efforts and community conversations around topics important to family medicine, respond to action alerts during the legislative session and share your experiences to help shape health policy in Minnesota through its Legislative Committee. Become an Advocacy Ambassador. Launched in 2025, the AAFP's Advocacy Ambassador program builds relationships among physicians and members of Congress and other elected officials who support family medicine's legislative priorities. Advocacy Ambassadors represent family medicine; engage with patients, policymakers and peers; and provide resources for peers and patients through education on public policy and health issues. Ambassadors have access to training modules, FamMedPAC events and more. Interested in becoming an Advocacy Ambassador? Visit the AAFP Advocacy Ambassador webpage. Speak out for family medicine. Use the AAFP's Speak Out tool to directly engage with your federal and state representatives. Timely messaging templates make it easy to make your voice heard on family medicine issues. Active campaigns include telling Congress to strengthen Medicare physician payment, support H-1B physicians and pass the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act.