Stepping Up for Democracy: The Episcopal Church and Voting Rights
The Episcopal Church’s General Convention has consistently expressed support for fair and free elections and has opposed efforts to suppress the voting rights of United States citizens. The recent Supreme Court Louisiana v. Callais decision further weakens the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations continues to engage Episcopalians in support of voting rights and civic engagement.
To bolster democracy in the United States, we in The Episcopal Church call for an expansion of voter registration, protection of voter eligibility, and making the voting processes more accessible. We oppose efforts that undermine democratic processes, including legislation like the SAVE America Act, which would limit access to the polls by implementing overly restrictive voter ID requirements, thus disenfranchising millions of eligible voters.
As states and territories continue to manage their elections independently, eligible voters experience a mixture of expanding or restricting voting rights depending on where they live. As the threat of disinformation grows, understanding what voting rights to advocate for and how to conduct voter engagement with accuracy and trust are essential skills for navigating this moment.
In the lead-up to the 2026 midterms, we will be releasing additional “Vote Faithfully” resources to encourage the church in nonpartisan voter engagement. Our goal is to help people prepare to vote, inspire voting among Episcopalians, and help congregations play a role in encouraging their neighbors to vote. In addition to reading through Episcopal Church resolutions (see below), churches can get started with these efforts by promoting and sharing resources from nonpartisan organizations like www.vote.org and the Civic Holidays.
General Convention Resolutions
2024-C026: Preserve Religious Liberty
2024-A081: Combat Rising Religious Nationalism
2022-C054: Advocate for Legislation to Protect and Expand Voting Rights and Access
2022-D043: Call on Congress to Abolish or Modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887
2022-D063: Support Policies to Combat Media Disinformation
2018-A230: Condemn Unjust Scapegoating
2018-B002: Advocate for Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts
2018-B009: Encourage Study and Practice of Civil Discourse and Bipartisanship
2018-C047: Support Voting Reforms that Achieve “One Person, One Vote”
2018-D003: Call on Governments to Cease Voter Suppression and Increase Voter Participation
2018-D071: Encourage Development of Grassroots Advocacy Networks
2018-D096: Urge Advocacy for Good Governance and Fair Participation
2015-A011: Urge Advocacy for Policy Changes to End Mass Incarceration Practices
2012-C033: Support Voting Rights and Representation for the District of Columbia
Executive Council Resolves
102021.14: Authorize Advocacy for Voting Rights Protection
022020.31: Support for Measures to Ensure Free and Fair Elections
102017.16: Fair and Equitable Representation for American Voters
062016.07: Support for Campaign Finance Reform
102013.06: Support for Restoration of the Voting Rights Act
041991.08: Support for Federal Campaign Finance Reform
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
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