VALLEY FORGE, PA — Vanguard has announced a significant development in its Investor Choice program, introducing four new equity index funds to the platform. This marks the largest expansion since the program’s introduction in 2023, underscoring the firm’s commitment to empowering individual investors with greater proxy voting options.
The Vanguard Investor Choice program is now accessible to roughly 10 million eligible investors overseeing nearly $1 trillion in assets, making it the most comprehensive proxy voting choice initiative in the market. The program enables individual investors, advisors, 529 plans, and retirement plan sponsors to influence proxy voting on key shareholder matters for companies held within participating Vanguard funds.
According to Vanguard’s recent research, investors have shown a strong appetite for proxy voting participation. The findings reveal that 83% of investors value asset managers considering their voting preferences, while 57% of respondents expressed interest in participating in a program that allows them influence over proxy votes.
“Investor participation is the keystone of a healthy corporate governance ecosystem and a basic right of company ownership,” said John Galloway, Vanguard’s Global Head of Investment Stewardship. “Grounded in our mission to take a stand for investors, we are committed to democratizing access to proxy voting for individual investors across all of our U.S. equity index funds, aligning policy options with personal preferences.”
Expansion Details
This latest expansion adds the following equity index funds to the Vanguard Investor Choice program, bringing the total to 12 funds with nearly $1 trillion in assets under management during the 2025 proxy voting season:
- Vanguard Growth Index Fund
- Vanguard Value Index Fund
- Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund
- Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund
They join eight existing funds already part of the initiative, which include well-known names such as the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund, Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF, and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund.
By broadening its roster of participating funds, Vanguard continues to lead the way in offering opportunities for individual investors to voice their opinions on corporate governance matters. With this expansion, the firm takes another step toward “democratizing proxy voting,” aligning its commitment to investors’ interests with its global stewardship mission.
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