Healthy Democracy Campaign

Welcome to the forefront of democracy, where healthcare students ignite change through the Healthy Democracy Campaign (HDC). As guardians of health, join a movement empowering thousands of healthcare students to be instruments of change inside and outside clinical walls – because a healthy democracy is the prescription for healed communities.

From September to Election Day, join in for some healthy competition where you are equipped with free, non-partisan Vot-ER tools, resources, and coaches. Teams will earn points and climb up the national leaderboard by encouraging patients and clients to register to vote, as well as completing other high impact actions to remind and encourage voting up until election day.

Whether you're in medical, nursing, social work, pharmacy, dental, or any healthcare discipline – by empowering our community members to vote, we can improve systemic factors that impact patients’ individual abilities to improve their health.

It's time to unite, mobilize, and catalyze change. Join the Healthy Democracy Campaign at your school today and be the prescription for a brighter future!

Join the campaign

How it Works

📣 Resources, Training, & Support

Vot-ER provides your school's team with Vot-ER registration badges, training, customized resources for voters, and more. Plus, our Vot-ER staff coaches will be with you each step of the way to guide and supercharge your impact and help you bolster your score on our leaderboard.

🗳 Engage Voters On & Off-Campus

Work with your fellow classmates to inspire civic activation among students, colleagues, and patients on campus, at their internships, and their field placements.

Using the Vot-ER-provided tools, people can register to vote, apply for a mail-in ballot, or stay up-to-date on upcoming elections.

📈 Real-Time Results

Track your team's impact—each time someone interacts with your school's voter tools, you can see it updated on your live leaderboard!

FAQs

What's the Healthy Democracy Campaign?

The Healthy Democracy Campaign is an annual nonpartisan voter registration competition among healthcare education programs across the US. Participating teams receive nonpartisan civic engagement materials and compete to reach the most eligible voters.

When does the Healthy Democracy Campaign take place?

The official 2024 Healthy Democracy Campaign begins September 1 and runs through November 5 (Election Day). However, you can start building your team now, recruiting members, and connecting with Vot-ER staff to plot out how to have the biggest impact once we hit election season!

What does a Healthy Democracy Campaign team look like?

All teams need at least one captain – we also recommend having a faculty advisor. While there is no minimum requirement for the number of students on a team, make sure you gather a solid group so you can ensure your impact ignites your campus.

Why should I be a captain?

Health issues are at stake in every election, and communities that are more likely to vote are also more likely to have their voices heard on important issues affecting their health. You have a unique opportunity to use your position in the health system to increase voter turnout. As a captain, you help lead your team to ensure your impact is felt across your campus. Plus, previous captains have gained valuable skills and knowledge.

What would I do as a captain?

As a team captain, you mobilize a team of students and faculty to score points by registering voters and completing high impact actions. Vot-ER provides your team with free digital voter registration badges and trains you in community organizing.

Set a goal for your team to achieve a certain number of voter registrations using Vot-ER’s non-partisan tools.
Build civic engagement into your school’s curriculum.
Achieve a ‘Time off to vote’ policy at your school.
Attend a Vot-ER textbank to ensure voters go to vote!
Host a Vot-ER training where you help fellow classmates sign up for Vot-ER tools.
Host a virtual or in-person event to recruit more members and conduct voter registration activities.
Run a social media campaign.
Earn Media Coverage to discuss the connections between voting and health.
Establish a Vot-ER chapter at your school.
Work with your school’s leadership to send an email reminder to all staff and students to check their voter registration ahead of the election.
Partner with a community organization to engage in even more voter registration opportunities.

What's the time commitment? My schedule is packed!

Vot-ER provides email templates and other resources that make it easy for you to make a big impact while saving time. If you are worried about the time commitment, we recommend finding a co-captain (or 2 or 3) to split the work. It’s even better if you team up with a co-captain from another class because your exams are less likely to fall on the same day.

I'm not a healthcare education student; can I be a captain at my institution?

The Healthy Democracy Campaign is designed for healthcare students with busy schedules. The time commitment is flexible and ranges from 30 minutes to several hours per week. In general, the more time you dedicate to the Healthy Democracy Campaign, the better chance your team has of winning, achieving our goal of increasing voter turnout, and ultimately, creating a more inclusive democracy. Vot-ER provides templates and other resources that make it easy for you to make a big impact while saving time. If you’re worried about the time commitment, we recommend finding a co-captain (or 2 or 3) to split the work. It’s even better if you team up with a co-captain from another class because your exams are less likely to fall on the same day.

I have no community organizing experience. Can I still be a captain?

Yes! No prior experience is necessary. We will provide all the training you need and any additional support you want!