Election Engagement

We recognize election engagement as an act of Christian stewardship. Our mandate to care for God’s world and people compels us to vote—and to help ensure voting access for others. Election engagement also means we seek to stay informed; critically evaluate information before we share or act on it; and engage in respectful political dialogue even when we disagree.

Learn more below about specific ways you and your congregation can get involved in the election process, as well as what The Episcopal Church has officially said in voting-related resolutions.

Register

Register to vote or confirm you are registered. Visit Vote.org.

Vote

Make a plan to vote. If you have problems casting your vote, contact the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) in English, or 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) en Español. Also check out resources on their website.

Find your polling place or request an absentee/mail-in ballot. Visit Vote.org and be sure to learn who and what is on your ballot.

Help your neighbors

Explore multiple ways and resources below to help members of your community take part in the election process.

Help people register to vote or confirm they are registered. Share Vote.org.
Help people find their polling location or learn about absentee and mail-in voting. Share Vote.org.
Share Election Protection hotline numbers. If you or your neighbors have trouble casting a ballot, call these hotlines.
- English 866-OUR-VOTE
- Spanish/English 888-VE-Y-VOTA
- Asian Languages/English 888-API-VOTE
- Arabic/English 844-YALLA-US
- For the deaf community, the Election Protection hotline can receive texts and WhatsApp messages to 866-OUR-VOTE, and email to hotline@866ourvote.org.

Become a poll worker. Learn more from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and find resources from Power the Polls.
Volunteer with Election Protection. Find volunteer opportunities for lawyers and non-lawyers.
Poll chaplain and peacekeeper training. Part of Turnout Sunday, clergy and laypeople can join the effort to provide chaplaincy and peacekeeping at polling places.
Offer childcare. Identify Safe Church-trained volunteers to provide free childcare on Election Day. This is also something people who are not eligible to vote can do to support those who are eligible and wish to vote.
Organize rides. Match people willing to offer transportation with those who need a ride to the polls. This is also something people who are not eligible to vote can do. Check your local election bureau to confirm churches can do this.
Provide food and water for people at the polls. Find guidance from Interfaith America and confirm local laws on this.

Monitor and publicize new state procedures. Keep your community informed about any changes in voting, including early, mail-in, and absentee voting. Always share trustworthy information and validated links to your local or state websites.
Voters experiencing homelessness. National Coalition for the Homeless provides a number of resources.
Voters who are transgender. Find resources from All In to Vote.
Voters with disabilities. We want to highlight three resources for the disability community:
- All In To Vote’s resources for voters with disabilities, including Know Your Rights
- American Association for People with Disabilities’ RevUP Campaign
- For the deaf community, the Election Protection hotline can receive text and WhatsApp messages to 866-OUR-VOTE, and email to hotline@866ourvote.org.
Young and college voters. Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project helps reduce barriers to student voting.
Voters with a criminal history. Laws vary by state. Use and share this resource from the Brennan Center for Justice to inform people about their eligibility to vote.
Engage on social media. Demonstrate your church’s commitment to our common life during election season by posting on social channels. Below are some sample posts:
- When we vote, we publicly declare our commitment to love our neighbor and to seek the common good. Let’s spread the word that we #VoteFaithfully.
- I listen, I pray, and I #VoteFaithfully on Election Day.
- I #VoteFaithfully because voting is a commitment we make to our community.
Learn about disinformation. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has a guide to dealing with disinformation.

The recommendations listed above have been vetted to comply with 501(c)(3) regulations from the Internal Revenue Service. Churches, as nonprofit organizations, must follow certain guidelines when participating in elections. Churches may not campaign, openly or otherwise, for or against candidates for public office. IRS guidelines permit houses of worship to involve their members in the political process through education, voter registration, and candidate participation in town halls. Here are more resources on what your church can and cannot do during election season. The IRS has several resources that you can use as a guide for your election engagement activities: Publication 1828 (Rev. 8-2015);Political Campaigns and Charities | Stay Exempt; and IR-2003.