Social media contest

Make Voting Visible. Make Civic Participation Count.

genCLEO Action Fund is inviting people to create original, nonpartisan social-media content that makes voting information more accessible, engaging, and relevant to their peers.

Participants will use Instagram to share creative content that helps voters understand why voting matters or how/when/where to vote, while encouraging civic participation without endorsing or opposing any candidate or political party.

Full rules and submission form can be found here.

$4,500 IN PRIZES

There will be up to 30 winners, including:

1st Place: $1,500 Visa gift card
2nd Place: $500 Visa gift card
3rd Place: $500 Visa gift card
27 additional awards: Visa gift cards ranging from $200- $50

How to enter

It's easy:

  1. Create an original, non-partisan Instagram post that aims to make election participation visible, accessible, and contagious among voters.

  2. Publish the content on Instagram as a publicly viewable post. A publicly viewable Instagram post is defined as a photo, video, or graphic shared by a user whose account privacy is set to public, allowing anyone on or off the internet to see it without approval.

  3. Complete the official submission form:

  4. Want to enter again? You can submit up to 5 different posts. Each post = one entry, so you'll need to complete the submission form separately for each post.

Submit Your Entry

How do you win?

This isn't about a panel of judges deciding whose content they like best. Your engagement counts.

Your entry's score will be shares + likes + comments = Engagement Total

The contest begins at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on October 8, 2026. All submissions must be received via the submission form by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on November 3, 2026. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be eligible.

The winners will be selected on November 4, 2026, and notified via email by November 10, 2026.

Each participant can receive only one prize.

What should you create?

Make something that gets people thinking and talking about voting.

Your entry could be:

  • A Reel or short-form video

  • A graphic or carousel

  • An educational explainer

  • A creative guide to the voting process

  • Or another original idea that makes civic participation more accessible and engaging

Tips for Creating Content

  • Provide accurate election information, such as: November 3 is your last chance to vote; the mandatory early voting period is from October 24 - 31; voting sites close at 7 PM; and you need an ID to vote.

  • Make sure you have good lighting, clear audio, and your subject is centered.

  • Link our Youth Voter Hub.

  • Follow social media trends.

Who Can Participate?

The contest is open to:

  • Individuals or organizations.

  • Residents of the United States of America who remain residents throughout the Contest Period, except residents in Maryland or any jurisdiction where prohibited.

  • Have a public Instagram account;

  • Create and submit original content; and

  • Follow the Official Rules.

One big rule: Keep it nonpartisan

Your content can encourage people to participate in elections and provide accurate information about voting.

Entries cannot:

❌ Endorse or oppose a candidate
❌ Endorse or oppose a political party
❌ Tell people who or what to vote for
❌ Include campaign advertising or campaign materials

Non-partisan means free from affiliation, bias, or support for any single political party, candidate, or ideology. Examples of language that would be considered partisan, and therefore disqualified from the social media contest:

  • “Vote for Democrats/Republicans.”

  • Vote for Candidate X.”

  • “I support Candidate Y because…”

Keep it creative. Keep it accurate. Keep it nonpartisan.

Official Rules