Santa Cruz hospital brings ballots to patients

As many cast their votes by mail or prepare to go to the polls, some will be doing it from their hospital beds.

Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz hospital is bringing ballots to patients to make sure that they don’t miss out.

The last time Francisco del Valle voted was in 1976.

“I voted for the peanut president. You know who that was? Carter,” del Valle said. “I haven’t been involved in the voting aspect unless it concerns me or pique some kind of interest.”

But this year several local and national issues have del Valle wanting to weigh in.

“Education; the homelessness is up there. Things are getting too expensive around here,” del Valle said.

He’d planned to vote until he got hurt.

Del Valle is one the 18 eligible voters at Dominican Hospital, and the hospital won’t let being a patient stop them from casting their ballots.

“A lot of these patients didn’t anticipate being in the hospital. It’s unfortunate that they are there, but we want to give them the opportunity to vote and make sure that their ballots are counted,” said Leslie Scott, with patient services.

For every election in the past five years, Scott has been picking up ballots for patients and delivering them to their beds.

“It’s just important. It’s important for Dominican to provide that service. And it’s human kindness,” Scott said.

Allowing those even bound to hospital beds to make their votes count.

“Just to be accounted for, and it’s important to always do that,” del Valle said.

After patients fill out their ballots Tuesday morning, Scott will deliver them back to the county elections office.