Providers have the opportunity to play a critical role in the democratic process on November 4— by ensuring residents and staff have the opportunity to vote.

Not since 1952 has there been a U.S. presidential election in which neither major party’s ticket has included an incumbent president or vice president. And not since 1960 has our nation’s electorate chosen a president straight out of the U.S. Senate. For these reasons—and many others—this year’s presidential election is one of the most hotly contested races voters have seen.

Across the nation millions of voters, many of them new, turned out for the presidential primaries. Many experts agree that November’s election turnout could be the highest in a generation. Now more than ever, it is important that senior living providers, residents, and family members get out to vote for the ticket of their choice.

Resident Voting

It’s often noted that seniors are the largest block of reliable voters. While political views may vary from one older individual to the next, the civic bond that ties them together is their strong recognition of the right and responsibility to vote.

As seniors move out of their homes and into senior living communities the desire for civic engagement generally does not fade, but sometimes a new residential setting can create obstacles, such as the inability to locate or get to a new polling place. Recognizing this, many states have passed laws permitting assisted living communities to serve as polling places.

G. Michael Leader, president and CEO of Hershey, Pennsylvania-based Country Meadows Retirement Communities, says many of the company’s communities throughout Pennsylvania have served as polling places for residents.

“Each year we see stronger participation,” Leader says. “Our residents truly appreciate the ability to get out and vote from home.”

In Santa Rosa, California, Michel Augsburger, president and CEO of Chancellor Health Care, says voting at the company’s properties is important for residents as well as the surrounding community.

“We take great pride in the fact that our senior living communities are a strong part of the larger communities in which they reside,” Augsburger says. “By serving as polling places, we are able not only to fulfill that goal, but we also have the opportunity to give our residents a unique experience in civic engagement.”

Providers in states where laws don’t permit voting in senior living communities take an alternate, creative approach—voting as a resident activity.

Tim Cox, COO of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., says the community has been providing resident outings to the polls as an Election Day activity for several years.

“Our residents have proudly served our country in battle, in every armed conflict from World War II to Desert Storm,” Cox explains. “By getting those residents out to vote we’re giving back to them while they continue to serve our country.”

Flexibility for Staff

Just as important as facilitating resident voting is ensuring the same for staff members. Many states have laws in place indicating that employers must allow time off, without a reduction in pay, to allow employees to vote. Still, many senior living providers make special efforts to ensure their staff members have ample opportunity to get to the polls.

“Although there’s time throughout the day for everyone to vote, I make sure that my staff knows that they’ll have the opportunity to participate on Election Day,” Cox says.

On November 4, providers have the opportunity to play a critical role in the democratic process—by ensuring residents and staff members have the opportunity to vote. This includes hosting the polls, organizing outings to polling places, and allowing for flexible work schedules so staff members can cast their ballots. But perhaps most significant is the message conveyed to residents: You and your opinions are important, and your community is here to help you cast your vote.

— Micah Intermill ALFA’s director of advocacy.

Back to the Magazine