MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin physicians today urged voters to cast their ballots, and remind voters that access to abortion as well as legislation that reduces health care costs such as the Inflation Reduction Act are on the ballot. A voting rights expert also joined the doctors to share how eligible voters can cast their ballots now through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
“Every Wisconsin voter has an opportunity on Election Day to help ensure that women have full access to health care, including access to abortion, and every family has access to affordable quality health care,” said Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a Green Bay OB/GYN and member of CTP’s Reproductive Freedom Taskforce. “As physicians, we see firsthand how more and more families struggle to afford prescription drugs and their medical bills. We see how Wisconsin’s dangerous barriers to abortion prevent women from exercising their medical freedom and are now even endangering patients.
“This election boils down to a simple choice for Wisconsin voters, and that’s whether women can have access to abortion and essential health care, or whether politicians can continue to interfere in a woman’s private medical decisions and severely restrict access to healthcare,” said Dr. Jill Cousino, an OB/GYN in southern Wisconsin, who spoke on her own behalf and not on behalf of her employer. “As physicians, we urge voters to understand that barriers to health care will impact and even harm families across Wisconsin. For voters across Wisconsin, their ballot is the most powerful weapon they can use to protect and defend their access to health care.”
Kyle Johnson, Political Director at Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC), shared how voters can ensure their voices are heard and encouraged them to make their plan to vote. Voters can vote by mail by contacting their local election office. To ensure that it is received by your local clerk in time, it’s recommended for voters to deliver it to their local clerk’s office rather than mailing it at this point. Voters can vote early, in person. They should visit myvote.wi.gov to look up what hours their municipal clerk is open. Finally, they can vote in person on November 8th. Polling places are open on Election Day from 7am to 8pm. Voters in line by 8pm can vote, so should remain in line.
“Make no mistake, Black communities know that health care is on the ballot this November,” said Johnson. “We know that folks, no matter where we come from, what we look like, our religion, we all deserve access to safe, affordable health care. To protect and expand health care access in our state, Wisconsinites must join together at the polls and exercise our freedom to vote. Voting in Wisconsin is safe, and our elections are secure. We trust our local elections workers, who are nonpartisan and volunteering their time to ensure we can cast our ballots safely and securely. We look forward to these trusted workers ensuring each and every vote is counted. We look forward to Wisconsinites demonstrating that we prioritize people’s health and access to care.”
About the Committee to Protect Health Care
The Committee to Protect Health Care is a national mobilization of doctors, health care professionals, and advocates who are building a pro-patient health care majority in Congress and in states so that we can live in an America where everyone has the health care they need to thrive. To learn more: www.committeetoprotect.org
