Election Engagement

We recognize election engagement as an act of Christian stewardship and a tangible way to love our neighbors. Our mandate to care for God’s world and people compels us, morally and spiritually, 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.

Join monthly ‘vote faithfully’ network calls / 1:30 p.m. ET on first Thursdays. / Register here

How can I be involved?

Below are some steps and resources to guide you as you prepare for Election Day.

Register to vote or confirm you are registered. Visit Vote.org.
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.
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.
Become a poll worker. Learn more from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and find resources from Power the Polls.

What can my congregation do?

Find ideas and resources to help your congregation ensure others in your community have access to voting.

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.
Find and share information about voting with a criminal history or without a physical address. Laws vary by state. Use and share this resource from the Brennan Center for Justice to inform people about their eligibility to vote.
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.
Clergy may serve as poll chaplains. Learn more from Faiths United to Save Democracy.
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.
Provide food and water for people at the polls. Find guidance from Interfaith America and confirm local laws on this.
Learn about disinformation. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has a guide to dealing with disinformation .
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.

The recommendations listed above have been vetted to comply with 501© (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 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.]

What does The Episcopal Church say about voting?

From supporting campaign finance reform to calls for increased voter participation and access, The Episcopal Church’s General Convention and Executive Council emphasize the need to advocate for fair and equitable election processes.
LEARN MORE >

Additional resources

Find more information and other resources related to election engagement below.

Addressing political violence (2024) / Read more >
What to expect when you’re electing: 2022 edition / Read more >
What to expect when you’re electing (2024) / Read more >
Inauguration resources (2021) / Read more >
Safeguarding Democracy: A call to avoid election interference and violence (2024) / Read more