Graduate students from the University of Georgia College of Public Health have produced a fact-based health policy tool for Georgia voters, just in time for the state gubernatorial election. The students divided into two teams, representing either Stacey Abrams or Brian Kemp, to produce an infographic.

The infographic compares candidate positions on select health policy issues in the areas of: insurance coverage, rural health, the opioid epidemic, medical cannabis laws and school safety. The infographic aims to provide Georgia voters with succinct, factual information regarding candidate positions on these issues, based on candidates’ prior political actions and proposed agenda items.

Team leader and MPH student Megan Bramlett said, “We felt there was a need for concise information without any political rhetoric. These issues are complicated and layered, and our goal was to provide a clear and objective visual to assist Georgia voters as they get ready to head to the polls.”

In addition to providing unbiased, factual information, the teams wanted to create a product that was accessible to all voters. The infographic will be electronically released through various social media channels and news media outlets in an attempt to reach a wide audience of Georgia voters.

Team leader and MPH student Seth Riggle said, “These issues matter to people, but unfortunately we don’t always get to see how the candidates stack up side-by-side. Our hope is that the infographic will reach a wide audience and allow voters to quickly and easily access the candidates’ positions in regards to health and safety to help inform their vote.”

A PDF of the issues guide can be download here. Infographic sources are available via hyperlink and can be accessed by hovering a cursor over the piece of information upon which further information is desired.

– Lauren Baggett

Posted on October 30, 2018.

Additional coverage via The Red & Black, Georgia Health News, KHN Morning Briefing, and Flagpole.