Faith-Based Leaders Mobilize Across Communities to Protect Free and Fair Elections Ahead of 2026 Midterms
As the United States inches closer to the 2026 midterm elections, civic and religious leaders across the country are stepping forward with a renewed commitment to safeguarding free and fair elections. Grounded in the principles of pluralism, these leaders are working to bridge divides, foster deep community trust, and encourage civic participation by actively respecting, relating, and cooperating across diverse backgrounds within their communities.
Ahead of the midterm season, Interfaith America convened discussions with three leaders who participate in the Vote is Sacred (VIS) fellowship. These fellows shared deep insights into the unique, multifaceted challenges facing this upcoming election cycle, outlined how they are working on the ground at state and local levels to protect democracy, and offered guidance on how people of faith can step up to support and unify their communities during a time of heightened political tension.
Meeting the Challenges of the Midterm Season
This election season, Americans across the political and social spectrum are grappling with widespread feelings of uncertainty and fear. While the anxieties surrounding the electoral process manifest differently from one community to another, the overarching work of pluralism requires facing these challenges directly. Fostering trust—both in the integrity of the voting system and among neighbors—demands that organizations acknowledge these hurdles openly rather than sweeping them under the rug.
Michele Dunne, Executive Director at the Franciscan Action Network, points out that the challenges confronting voters this midterm season span a wide spectrum, ranging from localized threats of electoral sabotage to broader concerns about voter suppression. According to Dunne, these issues look different depending on the municipality or state, but a common thread ties them together.
"One thing I think that will be a concern everywhere is getting proper information, getting correct information," Dunne noted, emphasizing the constant struggle against misinformation and disinformation campaigns designed to confuse the electorate.
For Jane Andersen, the Arizona Director at Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), voter apathy presents an equally formidable obstacle. In an era dominated by rapid media consumption and polarized rhetoric, everyday citizens often find themselves exhausted by the sheer volume of political messaging.
"I think our general everyday voters are completely overwhelmed by the quantity of news and quasi news that comes their way," Andersen said. "People are becoming less and less willing to buck the trend of what politics looks like and dive into it. That’s what worries me the most, because as a citizen, we really do hold so much power."
Compounding this apathy in many communities is a growing fear associated with participating in the democratic process itself. Dunne highlighted anxieties surrounding the potential presence of law enforcement personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other agencies, deployed near polling places on election day. Such measures, she warned, risk creating an intimidating atmosphere that deters vulnerable populations from casting their ballots.
These fears are particularly acute for minority communities. Ria Chakrabarty, Senior Policy Director at Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), identified rising hate directed toward South Asian communities, persistent Islamophobia, and escalating anti-immigrant sentiment as significant and damaging issues during this midterm cycle.
"[It] makes people really afraid to even want to participate in democracy," Chakrabarty said, pointing to recent vitriol targeting South Asian Americans alongside rhetoric aimed at Haitian immigrants. "At that point, you just want to keep your head down and not really engage with anything. You just want to survive. That’s a huge problem."
Different Communities, Shared Democratic Commitments
Despite the vast array of challenges confronting democracy advocates, Vote is Sacred fellows remain steadfastly committed to mobilizing their constituents in support of free and fair elections. Just as local communities and diverse constituencies face varying obstacles, the strategies deployed by different faith-based and civic organizations reflect a wide variety of creative approaches.
Reflecting on the collaborative nature of the fellowship, Andersen remarked on the diversity of the participants. "We’re a diverse group in terms of our composition, even on the political spectrum," she said. "But it was so encouraging to see the work they’re doing and the creativity that they’re using to reach their audiences."
For Andersen and the team at Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a major focus has been demystifying the electoral process for women in their constituency. In the months leading up to the midterms, MWEG has organized informational efforts that include scheduled visits with elected officials, shared media literacy content, voter preparation parties, and organized trips to the Maricopa County Tabulation Office and Election Center. By showing everyday citizens how votes are processed and counted, the organization hopes to replace anxiety and suspicion with transparency and understanding.
Meanwhile, the Franciscan Action Network is focusing heavily on the strictly nonpartisan work of upholding a peaceful and fair election environment. Dunne explained that her organization has been actively recruiting and organizing poll chaplains—individuals trained to station themselves outside polling places alongside other people of faith. These chaplains are there to assist voters with any practical needs they might have, foster a positive and welcoming atmosphere, and work to de-escalate potential conflicts before they disrupt the voting process.
At Hindus for Human Rights, election protection takes on a transnational and community-building dimension. Chakrabarty and her team work to identify and track how threats to democracy and rising authoritarianism in both the United States and India are interconnected. Their goal is to establish what Chakrabarty describes as a "landing place" for individuals whose deep commitment to democracy compels them to take action, even when they feel the chilling effects of potential retaliation or deportation.
In Georgia, HfHR is building local chapters and cultivating a sense of community that encourages constituents to stay engaged far beyond a single election cycle. "After the elections, they’re able to continue talking about the issues that they care about, and then once the people that they’ve elected are in office, making sure that the elected officials in Georgia are hearing from HfHR in the Atlanta metro area throughout the next two years," Chakrabarty explained.
Advice for Showing Up as People of Faith
As religious and civic leaders navigate the complexities of the current political landscape, they emphasize the necessity of rooting civic action in deep spiritual and moral foundations.
"It’s important for each organization or faith tradition to spend a little time discerning what is this spiritual grounding that they’re bringing to this work," Dunne said. For the Franciscan Action Network, that grounding manifests as a commitment to nonviolence and an appreciation of democracy as the primary system available in the United States for resolving political differences peacefully.
Drawing on her faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Andersen referenced a call from LDS President Dallin H. Oaks urging believers to act as peacemakers within their culture. This religious imperative serves as a primary motivation for her civic involvement with MWEG.
"We want to empower people to recognize that, as people of faith, our principles are going to guide how we create specific impact, and it really separates us from people who are solely politically motivated," Andersen said. "Approaching politics from a viewpoint of faith really provides a new and needed perspective."
For Chakrabarty, the initial step in democracy work—particularly when attempting to reach individuals who are hesitant or afraid to make their voices heard—begins with fundamental human connection. It requires "just showing up, listening and talking to people, and giving people the tools that they can use to feel in control," she noted. Providing practical resources and concrete ways to get involved helps empower constituents to reclaim their agency. "Democracies are just as strong as the people who are involved in them," she added.
Looking toward the horizon, Dunne remains remarkably hopeful despite the hurdles ahead. Across the country, she sees ordinary people stepping forward out of a deep conviction that a peaceful and properly functioning republic is worth fighting for.
"People are stepping forward," Dunne said, "and they’re saying, ‘I believe so much in the need for a peaceful and properly functioning democracy in this country, and I want to be there. I want to play a role.’"
