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From coast-to-coast in recent years, we’ve witnessed the reemergence of appalling efforts being made to disenfranchise members of marginalized communities at the ballot box. These actions are why the fight to preserve voting rights for all has been a central focus of the work of many religious social justice groups for years. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll hear from several effective advocates about the work they’re doing on the ground to get voters registered and how they’re combating the anti-democratic efforts all around us. It’s a long episode this week – but it’s full of important – and ultimately encouraging – topics.
With the battle cry “Our votes are demands,” The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has made contact with over five million eligible voters from economically marginalized backgrounds. Tireless Campaign co-chair Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis brings the urgency and rationale of raising up all voices as a moral mandate as she joins Rev. Paul Raushenbush, host of State of Belief, this final weekend before the midterm elections.
Voters of all faiths and none are being urged to take a stand against Christian nationalism at the ballot box. Rev. Doug Pagitt, executive director of Vote Common Good, has been touring the country in a big orange bus warning voters about this dangerous ideology and how to spot it. Just days before Election Day, Doug will catch up with Paul from the road about the stakes of this election and the concerns of the voters he’s been speaking with.
Many of us looked on with horror as Florida authorities arrested numerous people, former felons, for the crime of believing the government officials who told them they were allowed to vote. Cruel stunts like that are just one example of attempts to undermine public confidence – and suppress participation – in the upcoming midterm election in the Sunshine State. Thankfully, the League of Women Voters is on the front lines pushing back, and this week their League of Women Voters of Florida President Cecile Scoon will join us to discuss their important efforts.
And Paul has some parting thoughts to share on in this age of divisiveness, rancor and isolation: we are not alone.
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