Two Weeks Out from Election Day, Murphy Urges HHS to Add Voter Registration Option to Healthcare.gov

WASHINGTON–Two weeks ahead of Election Day, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Tuesday requested an update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on its implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order from March 2021 requiring federal agencies to expand opportunities to register to vote. In a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Murphy urged HHS to incorporate voter registration options into enrollment on Healthcare.gov.

“Specifically, I write to seek an update on the status of whether voter registration options will be incorporated into Healthcare.gov during enrollment. Given the number of Americans who utilize Healthcare.gov, I strongly encourage HHS to incorporate such an option as soon as possible, especially in light of upcoming national elections,” Murphy wrote.

“On September 28, 2021, the White House released a “Fact Sheet” which detailed steps that agencies have taken, or plan to take, to address the requirements of the March 7th EO. Subsequently, on December 8, 2021, the White House released another “Fact Sheet” outlining additional specific actions, including a commitment to making it easier to register to vote by utilizing Healthcare.gov to connect voters to voter registration services and other voter services,” Murphy continued. “As of today’s date, it does not appear that a voter registration option has been incorporated in the Healthcare.gov enrollment process.”

Murphy concluded: “The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, but states around the country are increasingly making it more difficult for Americans to make their voices heard. Ensuring the American people are able to exercise this fundamental right must be a priority, and, in service of that goal, we must offer voters as many opportunities as possible to register.”

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Becerra,

I write to request an update from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the implementation of Executive Order 14019 which among other things, required federal agencies to consider ways to expand citizens’ opportunities to register to vote and obtain information about the electoral process. Specifically, I write to seek an update on the status of whether voter registration options will be incorporated into Healthcare.gov during enrollment. Given the number of Americans who utilize Healthcare.gov, I strongly encourage HHS to incorporate such an option as soon as possible, especially in light of upcoming national elections.

As you know, on March 7^th, 2021, President Biden signed EO 14019 (March 7^th EO)^[1] to promote access to voting, simultaneously acknowledging that there are many existing obstacles to exercising the right to vote for countless Americans which ultimately frustrate their right to participate in our democracy. The March 7^th EO also required each agency to submit a strategic plan outlining the results of internal reviews examining ways the agency could facilitate additional voter registration and participation consistent with the law. On September 28, 2021, the White House released a “Fact Sheet” which detailed steps that agencies have taken, or plan to take, to address the requirements of the March 7^th EO^[2]. Subsequently, on December 8, 2021, the White House released another “Fact Sheet” outlining additional specific actions, including a commitment to making it easier to register to vote by utilizing Healthcare.gov to connect voters to voter registration services and other voter services^[3]. 

As of today’s date, it does not appear that a voter registration option has been incorporated in the Healthcare.gov enrollment process. The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, but states around the country are increasingly making it more difficult for Americans to make their voices heard. Ensuring the American people are able to exercise this fundamental right must be a priority, and, in service of that goal, we must offer voters as many opportunities as possible to register. As such, I write to inquire about the status of incorporating a voter registration option on Healthcare.gov.

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