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Take Action: Support Free and Fair Elections

Protecting the right to vote and instituting campaign finance reform is a moral imperative.


sign that says Voting is a sacred act
Contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to support legislation that upholds the right to vote for all.

As United Methodists, we “hold governments responsible for the protection of the rights of the people to free and fair elections” believing that “the form and the leaders of all governments should be determined by exercise of the right to vote guaranteed to all adult citizens.” (2016 Book of Discipline, ¶164A)

Voting Rights

In the United States, generations of advocates fought to expand the right to vote beyond the original electorate of land-owning white men. And despite constitutional guarantees, this right to vote continues to be under attack by ever-shifting tactics that suppress voter turnout and disenfranchise communities of color. In response to the continued systemic racism that undermines the guarantee of the right to vote to all citizens, The United Methodist Church specifically calls for re-instating and strengthening voting rights protections. (2016 Book of Resolutions 3378: Racism and Economic Justice Against People of Color)

Campaign Finance

Further, the United Methodist Church supports campaign finance reform that makes sure that policies respond to the needs of the people and not special interests.

“Campaign finance reform is a moral matter for the religious community. The temptation to buy favors is an ancient and unjust one addressed often in Scripture. The prophet Amos thundered against those merchants in Israel who ‘have sold the innocent for silver, and those in need for a pair of sandals…and push the afflicted out of the way…’ (Amos 2:6-7).

We commend those politicians of all parties who are working to achieve real campaign financing reform.

We call upon all United Methodists to work within their own countries to build support for measures that would end the flood of special-interest monies to political campaigns and restore integrity to decision making.” (2016 Book of Resolutions 5071: Electoral Campaign Finance Reform)

Contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to support legislation that upholds the right to vote for all, including black and brown communities, persons with disabilities, Native Americans, and the elderly.

Contact your U.S. Senators today to ensure that U.S. democracy is of the people, by the people, and for the people.