“I will vote when I go home to see family” is a familiar refrain among medical students and residents at some point in their training. While the sentiment has good intentions behind it, it does not seem to hold up in practice. Physician and medical student voting impacts healthcare and their voter turnout is essential.

Two independent and unpublished studies from the Medical College of Georgia, in 2024 and 2025 looked at voting records for medical students and found significant positive correlation between medical students being registered to vote in their city of study and voting in a given election. Specifically, both studies noted that students, overall, were 5-6 times more likely to vote when registered in their city of study. The studies utilized two sets of first- and second-year medical students and data from the Georgia statewide voter database to stratify the voting habits and registration location for these students using two different election seasons. The results highlight a structural barrier that many medical students across the country may face. Recognizing that medical students who have registered in their city of study rather than where their family may live are voting at higher rates, then it is clear that interventions need to be made to increase voter registration in their city of study to further elevate their ability to have a voice.

In 2018, data from Current Population Survey suggested that physicians voted at lower rates than the general population. While repeat surveys in 2020 and 2022 have shown improvements, that same positive trend is not seen amongst medical students. Unpredictable schedules, long clinical hours, and the demands of exam preparation often displace voting to the bottom of the priority list at precisely the wrong moment. With all these barriers in mind, many students don’t realize how hard it can be to coordinate a trip home to where they are registered while juggling their responsibilities. This is why it is crucial for the institutions training these future physicians to promote their active involvement.

There is no secret that politics play an increasingly significant role in healthcare, and medical students should be offered opportunities to contribute so that their opinion can be heard. Voter registration should be a part of medical school orientation, and each institution should strive for 100% participation. And why stop with medical school matriculants? Most residents and fellows have moved to a new location and voter registration should be front and center during orientation. Making voter registration easy and part of each new year orientation encourages physician advocacy and recognizes the importance of the physician voice. Start early and participate often.

Vot-ER is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to integrate civic engagement into healthcare that asks physicians and all healthcare workers to encourage voter registration in hospitals and clinics. People cannot vote if they are not registered and Vot-ER makes it easy for us to encourage our patients to use their power and vote. Finding out how to register is as easy as scanning a QR code on your phone or going to https://vot-er.org/ to register.

The ACP recognizes that voting impacts healthcare and therefore strives to promote physician involvement in elections. In light of this, the ACP developed its own toolkit for promoting participation in voting. The webpage includes a link to vote.gov where any user can check their registration status, update their information, or register to vote.  It also provides resources on upcoming elections, deadlines, and current statewide legislative activities, Additionally, the page features an introduction to Vot-ER and how to request a scannable badge that allow patients to check or change their registration status.

While voting is just one tool to advocate for healthcare, it is a powerful one. Register where you live, work, study. Use your power to vote often.

Nicholas J. Tsavaris, Third Year Medical Student and Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, MACP, FAWMA, Professor of Clinical Medicine Education, Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership

Theresa.rohrkirchgraber@uga.edu
ntsavaris@augusta.edu

Interested in sharing your perspective on a health policy issue in a future edition of the Capitol Key? Contact Shuan Tomlinson at stomlinson@acponline.org with your ideas.

Access ACP’s Toolkit on Voter Registration and Equitable Access to Elections