MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. – Imagine being hospitalized on Election Day and unable to make it to the polls. In New York State, no formal process exists for unexpectedly hospitalized patients to vote—until now.
Northwell Health’s VoteNorth program has transformed voting access at most of its hospitals, including Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital, allowing in-patients to exercise their right to vote even while receiving medical care.
On Monday, Northwell's patient experience team will begin the two-day process to help hospitalized patients cast their ballots:
• Monday Morning (11/4): Patient rounders identify eligible patients, assist with absentee ballot applications, and send completed applications to the hospital headquarters.
• Monday Afternoon (11/4): Runners deliver applications to the Board of Elections and return with absentee ballots.
• Tuesday Morning (11/5): Rounders assist patients with completing their ballots.
• Tuesday Afternoon (11/5): Runners deliver completed ballots to the Board of Elections.
Since launching in 2018, VoteNorth has empowered nearly 500 patients to vote from their hospital beds.
Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of Northwell Health, is a full-service 245-bed acute care hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y.
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