Hospital volunteers ensuring inpatients don't miss chance to vote

Volunteers and staff at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center are going out of their way to give a voice to many patients who are unable to cast their ballots in Tuesday's historic election.

On Monday, on their breakfast trays, in-patients at Summit Medical Center’s three campuses (Herrick and Alta Bates in Berkeley, Summit in Oakland) received a voting card request to allow volunteers to obtain an absentee ballot for them.

"... many patients-from new mothers to people who have had heart attacks-will find themselves unexpectedly hospitalized... These individuals may not have planned on being inpatients on Election Day," the hospital said.

The program is being extended to patients from Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. To be eligible, patients must be registered voters and have not previously requested an absentee ballot.

Some have reacted with great relief.

One Berkeley woman in her 50's was upset that she was taking longer than expected to be released from the hospital and would not be able to vote.

After filling out the request for an absentee ballot, "She was so excited to have a voice," said Alta Bates Summit Medical Center spokeswoman Carolyn Kemp.

Susan Abalos, director of Volunteers, is heading up the effort.

“This amounts to two fairly intense days,” said Abalos, “But it’s a tradition we’ve had and it’s worth it.”

The hospital offers the program during general elections, and it first began during another historic election, when the country elected it's first African-American president. 

Given the historic and contentious nature of the current election, the effort has received a lot of positive feedback. 

"Many people have mentioned what a HUGE relief it is to have a ‘feel good’ and positive story going on about this election," said Kemp.