Register and Vote
Democracy requires commitment, perseverance and faith. The Virginia Interfaith Center and Faithful Democracy continue to actively encourage people of faith to fully participate and engage in democracy through the "Have Faith and Vote" campaign. The campaign includes advocacy resources, a covenant for people of faith to make pledges to get to the polls on Election Day, and a number of fun, interfaith, non-partisan materials, available to congregations for their voting work during this election year.
Faithful Voter Covenant
The "Have Faith and Vote" campaign urges those in the faith community to covenant with one another to register and vote on Election Day. Through the covenant, we as people of faith declare,
My vote is my voice, and I have a responsibility to my community and myself to use it. As a matter of religious commitment, I covenant to be an active participant in democracy. I will have faith and vote!
Not only does the covenant emphasize the religious and faithful nature of civic participation, it provides a useful tool for organizers to keep track of congregation members who have pledged to vote on November 2, and in the 2005 Virginia State-wide elections.
Post card sized covenant cards are available for convenient distribution during worship, offertories, Sunday School, coffee hour, or as an insert to the bulletin. They include an action from our partners, Time to Vote (see below), and provide a removable signature page, which allows organizers in the congregation to contact those who sign the covenant.
Poster-size versions of the covenant can be posted in congregations as a symbol of community commitment.
On July 7, Faithful Democracy, in collaboration with Time to Vote, mailed a letter from religious leaders to some of America's largest employers, launching the "Have Faith and Vote" campaign. The letter encourages employers to allow their employees a reasonable amount of time on Election Day to vote, to take affirmative steps to remind employees of an existing leave policy, or to inform employees of state laws requiring the employer to grant flexible leave.
Faithful Democracy chose to launch the Have Faith and Vote campaign in the first week in July to honor the birth of American democracy. While most Americans have time off to celebrate democracy on Independence Day, many do not have enough time off on Election Day to participate in democracy.
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau suggests that the number one reason why registered voters do not vote is because they do not have enough time during the work day to get to their polling place. Faithful Democracy is asking top business leaders to support a voter-friendly work environment by allowing a flexible schedule on Election Day. All Americans should have time to not only celebrate but to participate in democracy.
External Resources from The Interfaith Alliance (no affiliation to Center)
A Campaign Season Guide for Houses of Worship <click>
CAST AN INFORMED VOTE - 5 Questions for Candidates <click>
Running for Office in a Multi-Faith nation <click>
