Faith & Democracy�2022

A Campaign Initiative of the

Justice & Witness Action Network

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Introduction

• 2020 presented a defining opportunity for us to build upon the strong foundation we are laying for a new justice movement centered around living into our vision and mission of being a powerful, faithful and impactful organizing network of justice leaders, clergy and local churches building and organizing power to secure a just and compassionate world for all.
• We launched our first Justice & Witness Action Network campaign, Faith & Democracy.
• A unified, coordinated and strategic initiative to engage justice leaders, clergy and local churches in non-partisan civic engagement, including: (1) Voter Registration; (2) Voter Education & Empowerment; (3) 2020 Census (4) Get Out The Vote; (5) Election Protection.

The Case

• 2022 presents another daunting challenge and defining opportunity in our nation’s history. What’s at stake? The right to vote and fair and free elections. The very foundations of our democracy are in danger.

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• 19 States across the country have already enacted 34 laws that restrict and deny the right to vote. All under the false pretense of voter fraud and restoring election integrity. While ignoring the long history of voter suppression to limit participation of specific groups of people from voting to negatively influence the outcome of elections.

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• The same old arguments and rules used to oppose the Civil Rights movement and racial equity are still being used today in the U.S. Senate to deny debate and consideration of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

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The Case

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• These acts of racial injustice and what the world witnessed on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capital present us with the moral imperative to take action against these growing threats to our democracy.

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• There is no moral cause more urgent right now than protecting and advancing the right to vote and promoting democracy. Every other justice cause is impacted by whether citizens can participate fully, fairly and freely in elections.

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• Coming together as a people of faith to organize and fight for justice, we can ensure that our nation doesn’t become an authoritarian state and instead moves closer to a true democracy.

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The 2022 Campaign

• A unified, coordinated and strategic initiative to engage justice leaders, clergy and local churches in non-partisan civic engagement, including: (1) Voter Registration; (2) Voter Education & Empowerment; (3) Get Out The Vote; (4) Election Protection; (5) Voting Rights Advancement & Combating Voter Suppression.

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• The Campaign is organized around faith and democratic principles of valuing and affirming the voice and dignity of all, especially “the least of these” among us.

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• And, the belief that every person has a right to participate fully, freely and fairly in the democratic process without fear, intimidation, limitations or false information.

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The 2022 Campaign

• The integrity and legitimacy of our governmental institutions are on the line, and is necessary to ensure that we have a strong, functioning democracy.

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• A 21st century democracy that represents our growing, diverse nation is imperative. A democracy that welcomes every person’s voice and participation, no matter who they are.

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• This is our vision. This is what we deserve. This is what we demand.

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The 2022 Campaign

Goals

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• Empower and support infrequent voters, the poor, people of color and first time voters to participate in the 2022 mid-term Congressional elections and state-wide and local elections in DC & MD.

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• Voter outreach in low-voter turnout and disenfranchised communities in partnership with Center for Common Ground (via the Reclaim Our Vote campaign) in eight targeted states, including VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, TX and AZ.

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• This Campaign will honor the voices of our Network members who overwhelmingly voted for our first federal issues campaign on Voting Rights Advancement & Combating Voter Suppression.

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• This Campaign can not be effective if it isn’t local church based. Similar to our 2020 campaign, we will organize Faith & Democracy teams in local churches participating in the campaign.

The Organizing Manual

• An organizing tool to train, guide and support local churches in conducting non-partisan civic engagement and to effectively participate in the Campaign.

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• Build the foundation for local church justice and witness ministry and strengthen local church capacity to do the work of justice beyond this Campaign.

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• Build strategic unity within the local church and with UCC local churches in your state action network, Network-NJ.

Guidelines on Political Activity for Churches & Clergy

• Local churches are non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Federal election law states that, “any educational, religious or charitable organization is prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity.”
• Local churches may not support or oppose any candidate for public office. This also includes making a financial contribution to and endorsing candidates for public office.
• Clergy and other church leaders must be careful to not engage in partisan political activity as representatives of the local church.
• Federal election law doesn’t prohibit non-partisan political activity.

Voter Registration

• Two Goals
• 100% Voter Registration of the Local Church
• Voter Registration of First-Time Voters, the Poor and Low Wealth, Communities of Color, and Infrequent Voters in the surrounding community and state of the Local Church
• Organize A Faith & Democracy 2022 Team
• Step 1 – Identify Team Members
• Step 2 – Set Goals & Timeline
• Step 3 – Get to Know Election Officials
• Step 4 – Identify Strategic Partners
• Step 5 – Sign-Up Volunteers
• Step 6 – Launch Your Faith & Democracy 2022 Campaign

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Voter Education & Empowerment

• Two Goals
• Invigorate positive attitudes and behaviors among voters and potential voters toward the electoral process.
• Increase knowledge about the issues around the election and the importance of voting.
• You Audience – Voter Registration Goals
• Voter Education & Empowerment Activities
• Issue Forums
• Voting Machine Demonstrations & Voting Precinct Locations
• Candidate Forums in partnership with other organizations
• Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly & Moral March on Washington & to the Polls – Saturday June 18th
• Racial Justice Sunday (Juneteenth) – Sunday June 19th
• Faith & Democracy Sunday – Sunday September 18th.

Get Out The Vote

• One Goal – Mobilize voters to vote.
• 10 Week Get Out The Vote Initiative (In Advance of Election Day)
• Get Out The Vote Activities
• Phone-Banking
• Postcarding
• Texting
• Door-to-door Canvassing
• Distributing Voter Education & GOTV information sheets
• Organizing transportation to voting locations

Election Protection

• One Goal –Protect voters right to vote.

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• The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition works year-round to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote count. Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, Election Protection uses a wide range of tools and activities to protect, advance and defend the right to vote.
• Election Protection helps voters make sure their vote is counted through a number of resources.
• Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE.
• New Jersey - https://866ourvote.org/state/new-jersey/

Voting Rights Advancement & Combating Voter Suppression

• Goals
• Promote a Vision for Democracy
• Achieve Voting Rights Restoration
• Increase Access to the Ballot Box

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• The systematic disenfranchisement of many across this country is increasing at a level reminiscent of what African Americans experienced since the end of enslavement through the reconstruction era until the civil rights movement brought transformational impact that is being undone.

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• With new threats and attacks on the right to vote, and increased voter suppression, people of faith must work at the local, state and federal level to improve how elections are run.

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• And finally, a civic engagement campaign is incomplete unless it also fights for the sacred right to vote.

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Voting in NJ

• Primary Election
• June 7th
• Voter Registration Deadline May 17th (Online & Paper)
• Polling place, from 6am to 8pm
• Early Voting – June 3, 2022-June 5, 2022
• Vote By Mail
• Request Mail-In Ballot by Mail Deadline – May 31st
• Request Mail-In Ballot In-person Deadline – June 6th
• Ballot MUST be postmarked on or before 8pm on Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls.
• Ballot MUST by delivered to county’s Board of Elections or placed in a Secure Ballot Drop Box by 8pm on Election Day.
• NOTE: Your Vote-By-Mail ballot CANNOT be returned to your In-Person Early Voting Poll Location or your Election Day Poll Location.

Voting in NJ

• General Election
• November 8th
• Voter Registration Deadline October 18th (Online & Paper)
• October 29, 2022–November 5, 2022
• Vote By Mail
• Request Mail-In Ballot by Mail Deadline – ???
• Request Mail-In Ballot In-person Deadline – ???
• Ballot MUST be postmarked on or before 8pm on Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after the close of the polls.
• Ballot MUST by delivered to county’s Board of Elections or placed in a Secure Ballot Drop Box by 8pm on Election Day.
• NOTE: Your Vote-By-Mail ballot CANNOT be returned to your In-Person Early Voting Poll Location or your Election Day Poll Location.

NJ Strategy & Next Steps

• Organizing NJ Association local churches, justice leaders & clergy to participate in the Campaign.

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• Organized by Regions - North, Central, East

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• Primary & General Election

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Contact:

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Rev. Kirk Johnson, Racial Justice Lead, NJ Social Justice & Witness Task Force, revkj32@gmail.com.

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Rev. Marvin Silver, Director of Justice & Witness Action Network (& Associate Conference Minister), justiceaction@cacucc.org.

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Sign-Up Now

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https://letjustice.org/join