Civic Engagement Gets Boost In Green Bay
According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), civic engagement plays a key role in improving the conditions that influence health and well-being for all. When a population is civically engaged it demonstrates that people care about their community and are motivated to participate in making it a better place. And benefits of civic engagement also seem to extend to the individual. A 2018 study of the impact of civic engagement on the future health and socioeconomic status of young adults found that participation in voting, volunteering and activism were positively associated with future education and income level, even after controlling for confounding factors like parental education or economic status.
And this week, civic engagement just got a big boost in Green Bay.
Two main indicators of civic engagement are volunteering and voting, both of which demand something that often feels like it is in short supply - time. With busy lives, childcare challenges, school schedules and trying to fit in healthy behaviors like exercise, time is a precious commodity. This week the citizens of Green Bay received news that early voting opportunities have been expanded to include evening and Saturday voting. For many, this increased flexibility could mean the difference between participation and missing out on the chance to participate.
As a working mom, I can relate to the nagging anxiety that somehow, someway the chaos of life will get in the way of my standing in line at the polls on Election Day. Having the ability to schedule when I vote, and tick it off my to-do list when I have the time to get it done, allows me to make civic engagement a priority that is not dependent on scheduling issues or last minute stomach flu. Extended hours also make it possible - and this year I am going to take advantage of the option - to bring my teenage kids along to see the process and understand the importance of civic participation.
So there you have it. Expanded early voting hours is a simple and concrete step to making the benefits that come from civic engagement accessible to all. This is well-being in action!
Early voting with extended hours started January 28! Check out hours below:
- Tuesday, January 28, through Friday, January 31, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Monday, February 3, 2020 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
-Tuesday, February 4, 2020 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 5, 2020 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 6, 2020 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 7, 2020 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 8, 2020 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, February 9, 2020 Closed
- Monday, February 10, 2020 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 11, 2020 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 12, 2020 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 13, 2020 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 14, 2020 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 𝟭𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝘁𝗼 𝟰 𝗽.𝗺. (𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 – 𝗻𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻)