Protecting this Year’s Elections
The election next month is different from any election we’ve experienced because we already know that the President, his administration, and his allies will try to sway the election in their favor.
President Trump has already tried various schemes to change election rules in his favor. The courts have blocked nearly all of them. But Supreme Court decisions have eliminated Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. That will reduce the voting power of African Americans and the number of African American members of Congress. Also, the gerrymandering war that the President provoked will likely shift some House seats from Democratic to Republican control.
Perhaps even more importantly, the President has succeeded in convincing many Americans that fraud and cheating are widespread in our voting system. That sets the stage for interference at some polling places and in the post-election certification processes. It is not impossible that Speaker Johnson will refuse to seat some newly elected Democrats or that the president will, at some point, declare martial law.
What can we do?
First, we should pay attention to what is happening at the polls. The Justice Department plans to send 1,000 federal agents to polling places. ICE may arrest people outside polling places. If you have trouble voting or see something wrong, call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a nonpartisan Election Protection hotline
Second, we can join and support democracy protection organizations. You can find an array of democracy protection organizations on the web. People at my local church have organized a Democracy Circle. Two church members lead it. Weekly newsletters from them and monthly meetings have helped me stay informed and engaged in things I can do locally to defend immigrants and protect democracy. Hundreds of democracy circles have sprung up across the country.
Protect Democracy is a good on-line source of information about what’s happening and ways we can respond. It is nonpartisan and cross-ideological.
Democracy Defenders Action and Democracy Defenders Fund defend democracy in the courts and share information about what they are doing. Democracy Defenders Action is a 501-c4. Democracy Defenders Fund is a 501-c3. I plan to make a contribution to the c4. Contributions to the Democracy Fund are tax-deductible. Both of these organizations are allied with the Democratic Party.
A third way to protect democracy in these crucial months is to speak out against anti-democratic behavior during the elections and election certification process.
Indivisible has been the lead organization behind the No Kings rallies. The first rally was composed of local rallies across the country, which together amounted to the biggest demonstration in U.S. history. There is likely to be a No Kings rally after the election, and I plan to participate.
We can encourage our churches to speak up. Based on experience in other countries that have struggled with authoritarianism, nonpartisan and conservative institutions have a critical role to play. Sean Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said this about the role of churches now, “Churches like ours, protected by the First Amendment and practiced in galvanizing people, may be the last institutions capable of resisting this administration’s overreach and recklessness.”
Finally, we can pray. Prayer helps to align our thinking and action with God’s purposes. It grounds our activism in God’s promises.
Public prayer in this time of need could be especially powerful. I hope that many churches will pray for God’s blessing and guidance for our nation between now and January 3 when newly elected members of Congress are supposed to be sworn in. Some churches might decide to pray for the nation every Sunday.
Conservative- and liberal-leaning churches can both pray that God will bless and guide our nation. If there is conflict and controversy in the election certification process, a wide array of churches might help lead the nation in prayer for an honest and peaceful conclusion to this election.
