Your Vote, Your Health, Our Future
While voting is often linked with civic duty and political participation, did you know that voting can also have a significant impact on our health?
Research shows that communities with higher voter turnout rates are healthier and more equitable. Why is that?
Roughly 80% of our health outcomes are shaped not by the medical care we receive, but by the everyday circumstances of our health – the schools we attend, the neighborhoods we live in, the job opportunities we have access to, the relationships that help nurture and support us. Together, these factors are often referred to as the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). And voting can impact every one of them.
Simply put, how we vote at the polls affects every aspect of our lives – our educational opportunities, the kinds of jobs our communities offer, our local neighborhoods, the services offered in them, and so much more. Will our neighborhood get a new grocery store? Or sidewalks? Will our community members have ready access to affordable healthcare? All of this is impacted by our participation at the polls. And all of it impacts our health.
So vote. Your health depends on it.
The Benefits of Voting
Shape Policies
When we vote, we exercise our right to make decisions about the systems and conditions that shape the health of our communities – like economic opportunities, neighborhood safety, schools, and more.
Fuel Your Purpose
Voting also fuels our sense of purpose and makes us feel more connected to our community, research shows. When we participate in civic life through voting, we can improve our sense of social well-being.
Be Heard + Counted
People who are less likely to vote are more likely to be negatively impacted by policy decisions, research shows. Voting barriers disproportionately impact people of color, younger people, and those from lower-income households.
Key Voting Dates for 2026
Register to Vote Today: Here's How
Make A Voting Plan
The primary election is coming up on Tuesday, August 18th, followed by the general election on Tuesday, November 3rd. This year’s elections include important choices that help shape our quality of life. Your vote makes a difference. Our democracy thrives when we participate at the polls, and voting is one of the most important ways we have to make our voices heard in America.
Now is a great time to make a voting plan. Answer the questions below to make sure your vote is counted.
- Are you registered to vote? Go to VotePinellas.Gov to check your registration status.
- How are you voting? In person, by mail, or through early voting?
- Where are you voting? You can find your precinct, or voting location, on VotePinellas.Gov.
- How will you get to the polls? Do you need a ride?
- What time are you voting? Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM on Election Day.
Go to VotePinellas.Gov to check your registration status, find your voting precinct, check polling hours, and more. Have questions? Call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections at 727.464.VOTE (727.464.8683) or email Election@VotePinellas.gov.