title: Results of a voter registration project at 2 family medicine residency clinics in the Bronx, New York.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Federally qualified health centers provide care to medically underserved populations, the same individuals often underrepresented in the electoral process. These centers are unique venues to access patients for voter registration services.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a clinician-led, nonpartisan voter registration drive within 2 university-affiliated federally qualified health centers in the Bronx, New York. Patients were approached by voter registration volunteers in clinic waiting areas during a 12-week period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Volunteers directly engaged with 304 patients. Of the 128 patients who were eligible and not currently registered, 114 (89%) registered to vote through this project. This number corresponded to 38% of all patients engaged. Sixty-five percent of new registrants were aged younger than 40 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project was successful in registering clinic patients to vote. Clinics are not only health centers, but also powerful vehicles for bringing a voice to civically disenfranchised communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York alisha.lenora@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liggett
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Yale University, Yale College of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Ryna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selwyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011057:Politics; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: civic engagement; family practice; primary care; social participation; voter registration; vulnerable populations