One Week Left: Transforming Anxiety into Action 

As of today, October 29^th, we are one week out from election day. One mere week. On the precipice of this historic election, anxiety and fear are abundant. We fear for our democracy, which is continuously challenged as bad actors sow doubt about the strength of our electoral system. We fear political violence, which is increasingly normalized and has played a disturbingly prominent role in this campaign season. We fear for vulnerable populations, particularly immigrant communities who are already being scapegoated and accused of causing voting irregularities.  

But what do we, as communities of faith, do when faced with such fear? We are called to channel that fear into acts of love.  When we exercise our sacred right to vote with love—and encourage others to do the same—we push this nation towards justice. The spirit of this work continues before, during, and after election day. 

One week is plenty of time to speak to your neighbors about making a plan to vote on November 5^th (or better yet, vote early). One week is plenty of time to set aside an hour to phone bank and help make the ballot more accessible to all. One is week is plenty of time to make a plan on how to prepare for post-election scenarios .  

In these final seven days, consider the following ways you can transform your election anxiety into action: 

Stay Informed on Potential Threats to a Safe & Accessible Election Day 

• Misinformation & Disinformation: Misinformation (unintentionally false information) and disinformation (intentionally false information) both can play a powerful role in negatively influencing public opinion and voter behavior. Deceptive practices sow confusion among voters, spreading doubts about the mechanics of voting and the integrity of our electoral process. Examples include 1) robocalls falsely communicating a change to polling location or hours and 2) conspiracy theories and falsities about the election. 
   

• Scapegoating: Scapegoating is when a certain group of people who share a certain characteristic such as race, gender, immigration status, or sexuality is falsely blamed for something that occurred. The scapegoating of marginalized communities can trigger violence towards those communities and is normally used for personal or political gain by the perpetrator. Examples include 1) conspiracy theories of noncitizens voting in the election and 2) accusations of specific demographics being solely responsible for a candidate winning or losing their race. 
   

• Voter suppression: Voter suppression is when an individual or group attempts to influence an election outcome by discouraging or preventing others from voting. There is a long history of voter suppression in the United States, often targeting communities of color. Examples include 1) increasing voter ID requirements, which can be overly burdensome and block millions of eligible American citizens from voting, 2) limited number of polling locations in a certain state or area, limited number of poll workers, 3) restrictions on when and how to cast mail-in ballots , 4) voter intimidation and violence at the polls. 
   

Make a Plan on How to Respond to Election Protection Threats 

1) Use & Provide Trustworthy Information: As churches and congregations, you have the unique ability to be a trusted provider of information to your congregation. Stay connected with those who are poll workers and poll chaplains. Circulate the Election Protection Hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) to your community!  

2) Presence at the Polls: Having people of faith present at the polls, particularly when there may be voter intimidation, or issues on or after election day, is one way your church can have a unique role in election protection. If there are reports coming from your resiliency network of violence or voter intimidation at the polls, certain faith leaders who have already been trained on know your rights protocol and safety practices in peacekeeping may be able to use their presence as a tool for de-escalation. 

3) Advocacy and Public Witness: There may be a time when a certain election scenario requires the moral guidance of a faith community. Consider the following: 

• Host or join an interfaith prayer vigil for a peaceful and fair election.  
• Work with a local legal nonprofit to sign or author an amicus brief in case of an election dispute filed in court  
• Host or join a Pray-In in front of a government building or polling location. 
   

4) Disaster Preparedness Plan: Help keep your congregation and church property safe by reviewing the safety considerations outlined in this document. To prepare for scenarios of civil unrest, consider:  

• Developing systems to temporarily move the business operation of the church; include access to important documents and insurance policies. 
• Creating a notification protocol that specifies who should be contacted in emergencies: emergency responders, employees, volunteers, tenants, congregants, and media. 
• Ensure a remote work plan is in place. 

5) Self-Care: Your faith community can help support its members through whatever happens during and after election day. Download Join the Movement’s spiritual care package to help your congregation care for one another during this time.  

In the final week before this election, do not succumb to the paralyzing effect of anxiety. There is still time to make a difference.  As people of faith grounded in love, we can—and must—use the time given to us to push this country towards peace and justice. 

God of strength and hope, this election cycle triggers our anxieties with advertisements, memes and a relentless news cycle. Pause our doom-scrolling. Quiet our hearts. Help us to regain our center. Amen.  (Prayer authored by Rev. Amber Henry Neuroth, pastor of Hope UCC in Alexandria VA, as part of the Forty Days of Prayer series.) 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hannah Santos is the Communications and Campaigns Specialist for the United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington, D.C.