VOICE OF DEMOCRACY (VOD)

2026-2027 Patriotic Audio-Essay Competition

This Year's Theme

"What a Veteran Taught Me About America"

Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the VFW's premier scholarship program. Each year, high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives by writing and recording an original patriotic audio essay.

Student Entry Deadline

Midnight, October 31, 2026

National Grand Prize

$35,000 Scholarship

Official Rules and Entry Form

Review the official competition rules and complete the entry form below.

Who May Enter?

The Voice of Democracy competition is open to students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or an approved home-study program in the United States, its territories and possessions. Dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel attending overseas schools may also enter.

U.S. citizenship is not required. However, entrants must be lawful permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence, with the application not denied, and intend to become U.S. citizens when legally permitted.

Not eligible: Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or older, GED students and Adult Education students.

Entry Requirements

  • The essay must be the student's original work.
  • Inappropriate use of ChatGPT or other artificial-intelligence tools is not allowed.
  • The recording must be in the student's own voice and in English.
  • The recording must be 3 to 5 minutes long, with a maximum variance of 5 seconds.
  • The audio must be submitted in MP3 format. Video entries are not accepted.
  • No music, singing, poetry or sound effects are permitted.
  • A typed copy of the essay must accompany the audio recording.
  • A completed official entry form must accompany the submission.
  • Students may enter only once and through one participating VFW Post each year.

Keep the Essay Anonymous

To ensure fair and impartial judging, do not include the student's name, address, school name or other personal identifiers within the essay.

Entrants should also avoid references to race, sex, religion, national origin or other personal characteristics that could reveal their identity. General references to being American, American values or patriotic identity are permitted when relevant to the theme.

How to Enter

  1. Write an original essay addressing the annual theme.
  2. Record the essay as a 3- to 5-minute MP3 audio file.
  3. Prepare a typed copy of the essay.
  4. Complete the official Voice of Democracy entry form displayed above.
  5. Submit all required materials to VFW Post 8905 by midnight on October 31, 2026.

Entries may be submitted according to the instructions provided by VFW Post 8905. Available methods may include a flash drive, an authorized electronic submission or Scholar's App.

Important: Entries sent directly to VFW National Headquarters will not be considered. All entries must begin at the participating VFW Post level.

Judging Criteria

Originality - 35 Points
Treatment of the theme should demonstrate imagination and human interest.
Delivery - 35 Points
The student should speak in a clear and credible manner.
Content - 30 Points
Ideas should be clearly expressed, well organized and fully developed, with smooth transitions between ideas.

Advancement

One winner for every 15 Post-level entries may advance to the District competition. One District winner advances to the VFW Department, or state, competition. Department winners may advance to national judging.

Decisions made by judges at every level are final. Students should contact the Post through which they entered for information about their advancement.