Vote For Your Codes: Encouraging Voter Validation for the 2030 Code Cycle

Vote For Your Codes is an initiative established by members of the International Code Council (ICC) as a campaign to encourage code officials to participate in voting through CDP Access. Since then, the initiative has expanded to promote engagement throughout the entire code development process—from serving on code development committees, to applying for scholarships to attend hearings, to participating in in-person hearings and ultimately voting online following the Public Comment Hearing (PCH). It is the first collaborative effort across all membership councils. 

The intention of the initiative is to increase the number of validated Governmental Member Voting Representatives (GMVRs) participating in all aspects of the code development process.  

This May, Vote For Your Codes will focus on encouraging thousands of GMVRs to participate in the online voting for the 2027 code changes via CDP Access.  

Throughout 2027, the initiative will focus on encouraging voter validation for the 2030 code cycle. 

Leadership Week and Code Hearings 

Vote For Your Codes made an appearance at this year’s Public Comment Hearing (PCH) in Hartford, Connecticut. There, the Building Membership Council, the Emerging Leaders Membership Council, Honorary Members and other ICC Chapter volunteers worked together to provide “code mentors” for Code of Honor scholarship recipients and first-time attendees.  

This initiative was designed to enhance understanding of the code development process and encourage deeper engagement. Vote for Your Codes always has a presence at the ICC annual conference – whether it’s a table outside the hearing room, a booth at the expo, or a learning session. Those interested in learning more or becoming involved are encouraged to connect with volunteers at a conference or through a membership council. 

Future Plans 

Vote for Your Codes is committed to continued collaboration with ICC staff to improve the validation of Governmental Member Voting Representatives (GMVRs) for upcoming code cycles. Feedback gathered from around 500 members last year identified key barriers to participation and ICC staff provided data showing that that some U.S. states had fewer than 50 percent of their GMVRs validated for the 2027 code cycle. 

Based on these insights, the member-to-member based approach will focus on increasing awareness about who’s currently a GMVR, the process to become a GMVR, the validation process and the value of participating in the 2030 code cycle. In partnership with ICC staff and ICC chapters nationwide, Vote for Your Codes aims to help more members find their voice in the code development process and ultimately to make sure every GMVR has the opportunity to “Vote for Your Codes.” 

More information and updates will continue to be posted on social media. Learn more about Vote for Your Codes by joining the Building Membership Council or Emerging Leaders Membership Council Membership Council here.