Analysis of Ohio Nurses' Voting Behaviors 2020-2023.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Policy and Political Science
• Public Health and Voting Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Licensed nurses represent a significant demographic within Ohio's voting-eligible population.
• Understanding nurses' voting behavior is crucial for public health policy and advocacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish baseline data on the voting patterns and political affiliation of licensed nurses in Ohio.
• To compare the voting behavior of different nurse types (APRNs, RNs, LPNs) and their party affiliations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized public databases of licensed nurses and registered voters in Ohio.
• Analyzed voting records for November 2020, 2022, and 2023 general elections for APRNs, RNs, and LPNs.
• Controlled for age and party affiliation in statistical analyses.

Main Results:

• 11% of nurses did not vote in any of the three elections; 47.7% voted in all three.
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) exhibited lower voting rates (34%) compared to Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
• Party affiliation varied among nurses, with most unaffiliated; however, affiliation was linked to licensure type and voting likelihood.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' voting behavior is influenced by licensure type, age, and political affiliation.
• APRNs and RNs were more likely to vote than LPNs, controlling for other factors.
• Findings underscore the need for initiatives to boost voter engagement among nurses.