Why Voting Rights Shape Everyday Life

Professor Shannon Lane joined Democracy Does: The Civic Power Playbook for an essential conversation about why voting rights, policy, and civic participation directly impact our everyday lives. As Director of the Nancy A. Humphries Institute for Political Social Work at the University of Connecticut, Lane explained how social workers often see firsthand how policy decisions affect healthcare, education, housing, and access to resources.

Despite growing frustration and voter fatigue, Lane emphasized that civic engagement still matters — and that small actions can create meaningful change.