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Episcopalians called to ‘Vote Faithfully’ as church renews, expands election engagement efforts

June 02, 2026

[Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church is kicking off its “Vote Faithfully” voter engagement efforts for the 2026 midterm elections with a series of online events to educate Episcopalians on nonpartisan ways they and their congregations can support civic participation in their communities. The half-hour networking calls on Zoom, organized by the church’s Public Policy and Witness team, are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Eastern on June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1 and Nov. 5. Registration is available here. The first call, on June 4, will feature Chief Legal Officer Kent Anker and a discussion of IRS rules for nonpartisan advocacy by religious organizations. Other calls will offer guidance on a range of topics, including voter registration efforts and election awareness campaigns, in which Episcopal congregations can serve as trusted sources for reliable information, said Allison Duvall, senior manager of church relations and engagement. Duvall, in an interview with Episcopal News Service, noted that the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States — marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 — also has relevance for The Episcopal Church, which was founded in the same era when Anglicans in the newly independent states broke away from the Church of England. “One of the most important ways we can show a healthy patriotism is by helping our neighbors exercise their democratic right to vote,” Duvall said. The church’s online networking series is just one of the ways that Episcopal leaders are encouraging greater involvement in the democratic process. For several years, the Washington, D.C.-based Office of Government Relations has compiled, updated and expanded a selection of voter engagement resources that can be tailored to local efforts across the country. “We recognize election engagement as an act of Christian stewardship and a tangible way to love our neighbors,” the Office of Government Relations says on its election engagement webpage. “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.” The guidance includes ways to register to vote, find polling places, request an absentee ballot and volunteer as a poll worker. Congregations also have a variety of options for getting involved, including assisting in voter registration efforts, offering childcare on Election Day, organizing rides to the polls, educating voters about new state election procedures and combatting disinformation about elections. “A lot of the resources we’ve pulled together we’ve done in partnership with other faith organizations,” such as Interfaith America, Alan Yarborough, director of government relations, told ENS. By “leveraging the church as a trusted voice,” Episcopalians can share basic information in their communities with greater confidence. “Accuracy in information is just so critical,” Yarborough said. The Office of Government Relations, through its Episcopal Public Policy Network, also has been vocal in rallying Episcopalians to the cause of greater voter access, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court further weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in an April 2026 ruling that all but removed protections against racial gerrymandering of congressional districts. “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,” the EPPN said in an action alert after the Supreme Court ruling. “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.” The action alert and the church’s election engagement resources include a summary of the history of The Episcopal Church’s positions on voting rights, as adopted by General Convention and Executive Council. “To some extent, this is work that’s been going on for generations,” Yarborough said, adding that The Episcopal Church is not alone. “There are many examples of faith organizations that do this well.” – David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.