Medical schools and teaching hospitals can support an inclusive democracy by encouraging civic engagement among students, staff, and patients. Nonpartisan voter registration is a simple yet effective way for these institutions to advance their commitment to health equity and is allowable under federal law.
The AAMC has developed this fact sheet in collaboration with Vot-ER, a nonpartisan organization that works to integrate voter education and registration into health care settings.
Federal Laws Allow Health Care Institutions to Engage in Nonpartisan Voter Registration Efforts
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA)
The NVRA requires states to designate offices as voter registration agencies that provide registration opportunities to their constituents. Under the NVRA, hospitals and other health care institutions are allowed to facilitate nonpartisan voter registration activities and/or seek designation as voter registration agencies.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
HIPAA codifies national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without consent from the patients. Voter engagement is a voluntary, opt-in activity. Because individuals enter their own demographic information in voter registration tools, voter registration efforts at health care institutions that do not use protected health information are not impacted by HIPAA regulations.
Internal Revenue Service Code (IRS)
Public health care institutions and public or private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are allowed to conduct voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities as long as they are conducted in a neutral, nonpartisan manner.
Guidance For Voter Registration at Health Care Institutions
Allowed and encouraged activities:
- Asking students, staff, or patients if they would like to register to vote and point them to voter registration resources.
- Telling students, staff, or patients that the institution offers a service to help them register to vote but that it does not endorse any political party.
- Helping students, staff, or patients fill out voter registration forms while remaining neutral.
Activities to avoid in registering voters:
- Do not state or imply that voters should vote a particular way.
- Do not communicate party or candidate preferences.
- Do not mention policy positions or party platforms.