The UCC Believes in the Right to Vote

by Velda Love | published on Oct 22, 2020

The United Church of Christ Believes in the Right to Vote

Vote: Act of Resistance and Spiritual Practice.

Justice cannot be achieved unless the rules for governing the democratic process are fair to all, yet voter rights have been significantly undermined in recent years. We have seen state efforts to restrict voter rights through stringent voter identification laws and rollbacks in early voting, and last year’s Supreme Court decision eliminated key provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law during the height of the civil rights movement on August 6, 1965, and Congress later amended the act five times to expand its protections. The right to vote is a “civil liberty”. The UCC General Synod has long supported voting rights and addressing obstacles to participation in the electoral process within the broader context of the civil rights struggle.

In 2020, for many within the U.S., especially newly registered voters and seniors whose ancestors resisted white supremacy and used their bodies demanding the right to vote are witnesses and will use their ballot as an act of resistance and a spiritual practice. Use your faith and your vote to protect the right to vote. It is an act of resistance against injustices and within marginalized communities, a spiritual practice.

For more information visit UCC Voting Rights and to get involved visit the UCC’s Our Faith Our Vote Website.