Move With the Spirit…And Register to Vote!

Every week, Our Faith Our Vote publishes a blog topic highlighting one of the critical issues facing the world today and providing for readers to take direct action. Whether you are writing the president asking him to protect asylum seekers, or working toward making your congregation Open and Affirming, there are so many ways the UCC empowers its members to be a part of the change they want to see in the world.  

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”  – James 2:18 

 One of the biggest ways we can show our faith is by going to the polls in November and empowering our communities to join us there. The United States is only 49 days away from Election Day, and several states around the country begin early voting this week.  

We do not take our sacred right to vote for granted, which is why we are longstanding partner of National Voter Registration Day. Today is the 12^th annual National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating our democracy. Since 2012, National Voter Registration Day has partnered with organizations of all at the local, state, and national level to ensure everyone has the tools they need to vote.  

There are several things we can do today to empower voters at the polls on National Voter Registration Day: 

• Check Your Voter Registration: If you have moved recently or haven’t voted in a few years, make sure your voter registration is active and current. If you are not registered where you live, you will be directed to your state’s board of elections webpage to update your registration for this year. 
   

• Find Your Polling Place: Some polling places may have changed over the past few years due to redistricting changes or voting laws, so it is crucial to have the most accurate information about when and where you can vote this year. Make sure you bookmark this page and double check your polling place before you go out to vote. 
   

• Voter ID: Unsure if you need to present a photo ID to vote in our state? VoteRiders has you covered. Just click on your state to see what kind of ID, if any, you need to present, and how to obtain an ID if you do not currently have one. 
   

• Become a Poll Worker: There is still a great need for poll workers in many localities. We are working with Power the Polls to help folks sign up to be a part of our election process inside and outside the polls. Training and sometimes payment will be provided. Sign up to be a poll worker today and help ensure safe and equitable elections for all! 
   

• Become an Election Protector: Election Protectors serve as voters’ first line of defense against confusing voting rules, outdated infrastructure, rampant misinformation, and needless obstacles to the ballot box. With your help, we can help stop voter suppression at the polls by clarifying the process for voters.  
   

• Pre-register to vote: Do you want to vote, but you’re not quite 18 years old? Many states allow you to pre-register to vote so that you are ready to go when you are of legal age. Some states allow you to pre-register as soon as you turn 16. Check your state’s specific registration laws to see if you are eligible.

This year National Voter Registration Day coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution laid the groundwork for our shared democracy, and as its inheritors, it is our responsibility to participate in it, strengthen it, and pass it down to future generations. You can strengthen our democracy today by sharing these necessary voting resources in your community and continuing to check back for any updates or changes, especially as election day draws near. Together, we can ensure all our voices are heard this November as we engage in our sacred right to vote.