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Access the Vote

VOTER FORUMS and DEBATES

Many people choose not to vote because they do not feel connected with political life. Holding a HOUSE PARTY, ISSUE DISCUSSION or CANDIDATE FORUM provides an opportunity for a community to invite party representatives or political candidates to gather for informational meetings or public debate. There are many ways of handling these forums at houses of worship that are all permissible under IRS tax codes. In terms of the 2008 presidential race, unless you live in a key primary state, it might be unrealistic to hope to book a forum for national presidential hopefuls in your community; however, you can still hold a forum. There are many other options in which you can request representation from either partisan or non-partisan organizations. This is an opportunity for voters in your community to engage in the electoral process and do what is needed to educate themselves on the issues being discussed.

Resources to help you get started:

Called To Be A Public Church

Posted December 28th, 2007
Sub-Title: 
2008 ELCA Voting and Civic Participation Guide
From: 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Year: 
2008
Additional Description: 
A resource guide to encourage, empower, and equip Lutherans to engage responsibly in the 2008 election cycle.

"Called To Be a Public Church" is intended to encourage congregations to participate in voter registration drives, voter mobilization campaigns, and poll monitoring. This guide also contains nonpartisan issue briefs on issues related to the ELCA social statements.

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Elections Matter

Posted June 10th, 2008
Sub-Title: 
A Handbook for Participating in the 2008 Elections
From: 
Bread for the World
Year: 
2008
Additional Description: 
We are serving God when we raise issues of hunger and poverty in an election year. As people of faith, it is our moral calling to be politically engaged. Hunger is a profoundly political issue. Practicing faithful citizenship is our right under the U.S. Constitution.

The year 2008 will bring the culmination of a long election season during a contentious time in American politics. It is our responsibility to engage in the processes that remind all candidates to make relief for hungry and poor people a priority. To convey this message, concerned people of faith can and should be involved in all aspects of electoral campaigns. Americans will elect a president in 2008. Voters will also select 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 Senators and 11 governors.

Bread for the World Institute, which provides analysis on hunger policy issues, developed this handbook to help Christians and other people of faith concerned about hunger and poverty to become involved in these elections. We especially hope that the tools offered here will help shape efforts to educate congressional candidates. These aspiring leaders must know that Americans are deeply concerned about hunger.

 

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Navigating the Intersection of Religion & Politics

Posted April 7th, 2008
Sub-Title: 
Video resouce
From: 
The Interfaith Alliance
Year: 
2008
Additional Description: 
TIA's Election Year program - One Nation, Many Faiths - analyzes and interprets the role that religion plays in an election year and seeks to establish a partnership between religion and government that preserves the autonomy of houses of worship and ensures that religious institutions are not held accountable to the priorities and interests of political candidates.  TIA has now created a resource in video form that will further aid houses of worship in their understanding of how people of faith should engage themselves in nonpartisan election year activities. 
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Religion and Politics

Posted January 10th, 2008
Sub-Title: 
Campaign Season Guide for Houses of Worship
From: 
The Interfaith Alliance
Year: 
2008
Additional Description: 

"Religion and Politics: A Guide for Houses of Worship"

This resource helps religious leaders during the campaign season understand:

  • The importance of encouraging their members/congregants to vote.
  • Why they should never tell members/congregants whom to vote for.
  • That a partnership between religion and government can and should preserve the autonomy of houses of worship and ensure that religious institutions are not held hostage to the priorities and interests of federal, state, or local governments.
  • That religion's powerful healing force in politics can be severely compromised when America's shared values are replaced by values that advance only particular sectarian interests.
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The Catholic Vote

Posted April 24th, 2008
Sub-Title: 
Guide for the Perplexed
From: 
Maryknoll
Year: 
2008
Additional Description: 
Authors Clarke E Cochran and David Cochran remind us that Catholic teaching cannot be reduced to a single issue in their latest book, The Catholic Vote: A Guide for the Perplexed. It is an easy-to-understand guide to current issues, including the economy, poverty, health care, family crime, war, race and ethnicity, immigration, the environment and the protection of all human life. The book is written for Catholics who want to participate in their country's political life while putting into practice the Catholic values of life, dignity, solidarity ad proper stewardship.

Its five chapters cover the importance of participating in the political life of a community; the extent to which catholic values influence catholic voter choices the significant issues; how to evaluate candidates for office; and how the catholic tradition can transform our political landscape.

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