The final judging will be via online audience voting at www.CNN.com/Heroes. Viewers will have the opportunity to vote in an online poll for the finalists whose accomplishments, impact and stories best represent CNN Heroes. Voting for CNN Hero of the Year begins on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 (12:00 PM ET) and continues through Sunday, November 30, 2025 (11:59 PM PT).
In accordance with the CNN Hero Legal Disclosure and these Terms, the finalist with the most votes from among the top five CNN Heroes will be the winner (“Winner”). Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.
Eligible votes must be submitted using a verifiable email. Voting is limited to 10 votes per day. Votes that exceed the limit will not be counted.
Please note that even if a finalist appears to be a leader or winner during online voting, that individual has not yet been declared a winner. CNN shall declare all official winners. All Finalists are subject to verification by CNN and must meet all eligibility requirements, including performing and returning all required releases, or may be disqualified. The judge’s decision is final and binding. Whether a Nominator is identified, and which Nominator is identified if an individual has multiple nominations, is at CNN’s sole discretion.
CNN reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any finalists, void the votes of any individuals who directly or indirectly tamper with the voting process, and cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Awards Program. Votes generated by scripts, macros, or other automated means will be void. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects or delays in the operation of transmissions, communications, line failures, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to, claims or otherwise. Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of telephone networks or lines, computer online systems, servers, equipment or software, inability to receive votes due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet, websites, telephone lines, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to a Participant’s computer related to or resulting from participation in this Awards Program. Sponsor is not responsible for votes not received due to personal account settings, spelling, or other end-user errors. CAUTION: Any attempt by any entrant or user to intentionally damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Awards Program is a violation of criminal and civil law, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages if such an attempt is made. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. In the event of any other event or cause beyond Sponsor’s control, including acts of sabotage, acts of God, terrorism or threats thereof, computer viruses, or anything that impairs the integrity, administration, security or proper operation of the voting process, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify entrants and/or to modify, cancel, or suspend the Awards Program. In the event of cancellation, Sponsor reserves the right to award prizes from among all eligible non-suspect entries received prior to the event requiring cancellation. False or deceptive voting and/or conduct will disqualify each Finalist.
For additional information and details, please see our full legal disclosures at https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/25/world/cnn-heroes-legal-disclosures-2025.
