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They say knowledge is power. But when it comes to politics, votes are power. That is why the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) is launching a National Mental Health Voter Empowerment Project (MHVEP) to give people with mental illness a stronger voice in national, state and local politics.

In the halls of the U.S. Congress, in state houses and in the thousands of mayors' offices that dot our nation, people have power either because they vote or because they were voted into office. People voted into office want to support their constituencies, the people who vote for them. The more people with mental illness vote and are recognized for voting, the more power they will have.

The more power people with mental illness have, the more they will be able to participate in making policies that affect them. For example, when Members of Congress weigh in on mental health parity, they may be less likely to think that a vote of opposition will not hurt them politically. State and local officials will be more likely to fund community-based treatment systems if they know their constituents want them.

The MHVEP has already made a big difference in New York City, where founder Ken Steele first launched it. Ken has registered 30,000 people with mental illness to vote, many for the first time. He and the Mental Health Association of New York State are now implementing the project state-wide.

Politicians are fast to return Ken's calls because they think he delivers votes. While in a way this is true, because he does register people to vote, neither Ken nor the Voter Empowerment Project tell (or recommend to) anyone how to vote. The project is strictly non-partisan.

The project has three important components:

Voter registration drives
Candidate surveys
Get-out-the-vote reminders
One of the most important pieces of the National MHVEP is its database. Affiliates of the NMHA and our other partners will maintain a list of people registered to vote and their contact information.
Another factor that sets this project apart from other voter registration drives is the candidates' survey. NMHA will send political candidates questions about vital political issues, such as support for mental health parity, involuntary commitment laws, The Work Incentives Act, and other important policies. Local Voter Empowerment organizers will send state and local candidates questions regarding local health, housing and employment policies. Their answers will be compiled and sent directly—unedited—to people registered to vote through the National MHVEP. Their answers will speak for themselves—without editorial comment from Voter Empowerment organizers.

Prior to elections, people registered to vote will again be contacted and reminded to vote.

The NMHA was founded by a man with mental illness, Clifford Beers, as an organization for education, advocacy and reform. We think the National MHVEP is one way that NMHA continues to fulfill its mission. We hope it is a success, one that over time continues to build on advances in the consumer movement.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the federal Center for Mental Health Services and to Janssen Pharmaceutica for initial funding for this important project.