How the AVMA Election Works — and Why Your Voice Matters

How the AVMA Election Works — and Why Your Voice Matters

(Even if You’re Not the One Casting the Vote)

Every year during AVMA convention, the AVMA elects a new President-Elect — someone to help represent veterinary medicine across the country and beyond. If you’ve been following along with this election cycle, you may have asked yourself:

“How do I vote?”

The answer may surprise you:
Most veterinarians don’t cast a direct vote. Instead, the decision is made by a group known as the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD).

But here’s the important part:
That doesn’t mean your voice doesn’t matter.
In fact, it may matter now more than ever.

🧭 So, What Is the House of Delegates?

The AVMA House of Delegates is the voting body responsible for electing the President-Elect, among many other decisions that impact the profession. It’s made up of representatives from:

• All 50 states, PR and DC
• Almost 2 dozen allied organizations (like AAHA, AABP, and more)

Each group has two representatives — a delegate and an alternate delegate — who speak and vote on behalf of their organization.

These delegates are your colleagues. They’re veterinarians who have been selected to represent the voice of their state or allied group within AVMA’s leadership structure.

🔍 Who Picks the Delegates — and How Do They Vote?

This is where it gets really interesting — and where education and resource sharing are so important.

Each organization within the HOD gets to decide how they select their delegates and how those delegates determine their vote in the AVMA election.

Across the HOD, there’s a variety of approaches:

• Some delegates vote independently, using their own judgment and knowledge of the candidates.
• Others vote in collaboration with their organization’s membership, board, or committees.
• Still others are directed by their VMA or VMS leadership — typically an executive board or decision-making body within the organization.

There’s no universal method — it’s up to each individual HOD organization. That’s why it’s so important to know how your own group works and to build relationships with your delegates.

📬 What Can You Do to Be Part of the Process?

Even if you’re not one of the 140 delegates voting in July, you can still make your voice heard. Your input matters — and many delegates welcome hearing from members of their profession.

Here are three things you can do right now:

1. Find out who represents you.
   Not sure who your HOD delegates are? You can find the full list here on the AVMA site.
2. Reach out.
   Call or send an email or message to your delegate. Let them know what’s important to you. Share your thoughts on the future of the profession. And if you’re supporting my campaign, I’d love for you to tell them why.
3. Ask how the process works.
   Every organization is different. Ask your VMA or allied group how they guide their delegates in voting. Do they solicit member feedback? Is there a board vote? Can you share your thoughts ahead of time?

💡 Why I’m Sharing This

One of the pillars of my campaign is education and resource sharing. I believe that when we understand how our profession is governed, we can engage more effectively, collaborate more fully, and move forward together.

That’s also why I’ve spent time meeting with nearly every leadership group from the HOD organizations — both in person and virtually. I’ve had conversations with students, practice owners, specialists, technicians, recent grads, and state leaders. Those conversations have shaped how I think, how I lead, and how I hope to serve the profession.

✅ Let’s Keep the Momentum Going

If you’re passionate about the future of veterinary medicine — and if you believe in collaborative, team-focused leadership — I invite you to get involved in this process. Whether it’s your first AVMA election or your fifth, there’s never been a better time to speak up.

• Find your delegate
• Ask questions
• Share your thoughts
• Use your influence to support leadership you believe in

Let’s lead veterinary medicine forward — together.