Healthy Democracy Campaign

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 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!

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!

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.

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. 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.

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!