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Election Toolkit helps Episcopalians engage in nonpartisan activities

May 18, 2016
Office of Public Affairs

The 2016 election in the United States remains the top of the news in media outlets, and it is inevitably a topic in personal conversations. To provide education about the election as well as assisting in being prepared, The Episcopal Church has developed an online toolkit with a webpage that outlines how individual Episcopalians and congregations can participate in the electoral process through a number of nonpartisan activities.

Through the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN), information is also available on an important initiative, the Episcopal Pledge to Vote.  The EPPN is calling on all Episcopalians to pledge that they will cast a vote in the general election. You can make your pledge to vote and find the toolkit which is designed to assist Episcopalians in being informed and engaged voters on the EPPN election webpage.

“On November 8 our nation will head to the polls to decide a number of important elections, and there are many opportunities for Episcopalians to engage in this electoral process,” noted Lacy Broemel, Manager for Communications and Operations, in the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations

Broemel explained that the Episcopal Church policy recognizes voting and political participation as an act of Christian stewardship, calling upon congregations to engage in conversation on public policy issues, to develop voter registration and issue education campaigns, and to advocate to counteract threats to voting rights.

All election engagement resources, including the downloadable Episcopal Election Engagement Toolkit, are available on the Episcopal Public Policy Network site here

Among the possible non-partisan activities offered are: engaging young adults who are eligible to vote for the first time; hosting a candidate forum; advocating for voting rights legislation; and hosting Get Out The Vote campaigns.

“Engaging in elections is one way we can live out our call to care for our neighbors as ourselves,” Broemel explained. “Election engagement goes beyond simply casting a ballot, but includes engaging in civil discourse and protecting voting rights.”

#EpiscopaliansVote