2025 healthy democracy campaign
Future Healthcare Leaders Start Here.
What if you could help lead the charge of creating healthier communities… just by getting into a little ‘healthy’ competition on your campus?
This fall, healthcare students and faculty across the nation are stepping up to improve health outcomes, not just in clinics, but at the ballot box. From September 2 to November 4, Vot-ER’s Healthy Democracy Campaign (HDC) gives you the tools, support, and platform to help your community gain agency over their health.
You’ll compete with other campuses nationwide to register the most voters, host civic events, educate peers, and push your team to the top of the Vot-ER Healthy Democracy Leaderboard, all while driving real change on and off campus.
This isn’t just about winning a trophy (yes, the top team will take home the coveted HDC trophy!) It’s about helping more students, patients, and communities shape the decisions that affect their health. You have the power to help your community vote like their health depends on it and put your school on the map as a national leader in civic health while doing it!
And let’s be honest, making a difference is great but making a difference and winning a trophy for it? Even better. Glory is just around the corner.
How HDC Works
1. Choose your role and sign up to get your campus on the list of competing campuses (It takes less than 2 minutes):
- Team Captain – Start and lead a team, recruit classmates, and drive your campus strategy.
- Team Member – Join an existing team, take action, and help your school climb the leaderboard.
- Faculty Advisor – Support student leaders and connect civic engagement to your institution’s mission.
2. Take Action & Earn Points: Each voter registration = 1 point. High-impact actions = earn even more.
3. Get Support Every Step of the Way: You’ll receive free Vot-ER tools, 1-on-1 coaching, ready-to-use resources, and a national community of peers organizing for change.
Who Can Join:
If you’re in any healthcare-related degree program, medicine, nursing, social work, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, PA, or allied health, then this campaign is built for you!
Whether you’re brand new or already mobilizing, there’s a role for you on campus or in the clinic.
Why Now:
You don’t need to wait until you graduate to make a difference.
You don’t need to be in politics to shift power.
The biggest drivers of health outcomes, like housing, food access, transportation, and insurance are shaped by policy, not just prescriptions. And yet, most people who walk through a hospital or clinic this year won’t be asked the question: “Are you registered to vote?”
That’s where you come in.
As a trusted future healthcare professional, you’re already in the room. By joining the Healthy Democracy Campaign, you’ll help classmates, patients, and your community gain more control over the systems that shape their health – and their lives.
This is your moment. Let’s build a healthier democracy, together.
Healthy Democracy Campaign FAQs
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.
The official 2024 Healthy Democracy Campaign begins September 3 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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The Healthy Democracy Campaign is designed for healthcare students with busy schedules. If you are not in a graduate program or residency for healthcare, social work, or public health, please email us at students@vot-er.org to see how you may be able to best plug in to our work.
Yes! No prior experience is necessary. We will provide all the training you need and any additional support you want!