Video ads, new website aim to spur political engagement

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has expanded NACDS RxImpact Votes get-out-the-vote initiative this year, including new video ads, a website and social media engagement.

NACDS said the first 30-second video, titled “Effective,” premiered on Wednesday during the kickoff of the NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill lobbying event and called on those in the pharmacy industry to “get involved” and “help spread the word” about the importance of community pharmacy.

Designed to spur pharmacy personnel to volunteer and vote for the candidates of their choice, the ads will bear the hashtag #PharmacyVoter, which will be used in social media to foster a community focus on voter engagement.

“The first ad makes a clear case to pharmacy personnel: We talk all the time about helping patients take their medications, and it is just as important to encourage voters to make their mark on the elections,” NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. NACDS plans to release the next 30-second ad later this spring.

In addition, NACDS launched PharmacyVoter.org, a website targeted to the pharmacy community to spotlight the RxImpact Votes effort.

According to NACDS, the videos, website and social media call attention to resources that pharmacy personnel and companies can use to encourage engagement in the political process. The online resources identify candidates running for office in a particular geographic area, explain how to volunteer for a campaign, help in the planning of a get-out-the-vote rally, and outline how to build a company culture emphasizing participation in government.

“NACDS members operate pharmacies in every state and congressional district. Nearly all Americans, 86%, live within five miles of a community pharmacy,” Anderson added. “The point of NACDS RxImpact Votes is to demonstrate that the people of pharmacy are as politically engaged as they are patient-accessible.”