Title

Voting is Social Work: Voices From the National Social Work Voter Mobilization Campaign

Department/School

Social Work

Date of this version

2019

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1656690

Abstract

The National Social Work Voter Mobilization Campaign, also known as Voting is Social Work, involved social work faculty, field educators, practitioners, and students in a nonpartisan voter engagement drive. Following the 2018 elections, researchers surveyed Campaign participants in social work schools and agencies to document their voter engagement activities. The study reported extent and amount of their involvement. The survey distinguished between the voter engagement participation of school- versus agency-based social workers, which has not been studied elsewhere. Participants also reported the benefits of political participation to individuals, communities, and the profession and perceived barriers such as organizational constraints, fears of appearing partisan, and distrust of politics. Presented in historical context, the findings highlight the need to mainstream voter engagement throughout social work education.

Volume

55

Issue

4

Published in

Journal of Social Work Education

Citation/Other Information

Abramovitz, A., Sherraden, M., Hill, K., Smith, T. R., Lewis, B., & Mizrahi, T. (2019). Voting is Social Work: Voices From the National Social Work Voter Mobilization Campaign. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(4), 626-644. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1656690

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