“This fall, US voters will once again head to the polls to choose our local, state, and national leaders. At the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, we recognize the influence that voting has on public health. It is no surprise that the American Medical Association has deemed voting a social determinant of health.

“Over the last several years, we have seen the impact that policymakers have on our ability to care for our patients. On the national level, rural healthcare has been prioritized as access dwindles, while at the same time Medicaid policy has been upended. In state legislatures, we are seeing the consequences of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision in real time – some states are shoring up protections for providers and patients, while others continue to strip away access and interfere with the patient-physician relationship.

“There is no denying that healthcare is on the ballot. With some states redistricting mid-cycle and others adjusting voter registration laws, it is more important than ever to fight to make your voice and your patients’ voices heard. This is why SMFM is re-launching our Get Out the Vote page, originally developed in 2024 and updated for the upcoming November election. We not only encourage you to explore the resources but also order your free voter registration badge from our partner, Vot-ER, a nonpartisan organization who focuses specifically on voter registration in healthcare settings.

“If you have questions about our campaign, or how to get involved with Vot-ER, please contact SMFM’s advocacy team at SMFMAdvocacy@smfm.org.”