Washington, D.C.—The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) is making a final urgent push to encourage all registered voters to exercise their right to participate in the election process by the time the polls close on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Historic turnout during early voting across the country has signaled that NCC’s efforts, along with many other organizations, are having an impact. With one day to go until Election Day, NCC is making every effort to motivate voters to cast their ballots.
This year, the NCC has been actively involved in numerous efforts to engage, educate, and empower voters to register and vote in what will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.
- Voting Matters toolkit, released in May 2024
- Video series
- Social media campaign, including voting reminder badges
- NCC Freedom Summer 2024 tour across five states from July to September 2024
- NCC Freedom Summer Academy, a six-week intensive virtual Bible study from July to August 2024
- Dedicated webpage with election resources
- Election Day prayer
- Vote Ready campaign information
In collaboration with Faiths United to Save Democracy and other partner organizations and member denominations, the NCC has emphasized the importance of Christians exercising their civic duty as a matter of faith. Now that Election Day has arrived, the NCC is promoting voter empowerment messaging emphasizing, “Your voice matters. Your values matter. Your vote matters,” urging eligible voters to ensure their voices are heard.
NCC’s history of engagement in voting rights goes back to the Civil Rights Movement. NCC helped to organize the March on Washington and participated in Freedom Summer in Mississippi 60 years ago, sending more than 1,200 volunteers and over 250 clergy to help register Black voters and integrate the state’s political system. During this crucial year, NCC has galvanized its partners and member denominations to amplify the importance of the election, voter registration, and voter participation.
Enthusiasm around voting this year, however, has been marred by toxic polarization, an assassination attempt against a presidential candidate, increased threats of violence, misinformation and disinformation designed to sway the election, and racist and misogynistic rhetoric that has escalated in detrimental ways. NCC stands against these vile attempts to disrupt our nation’s democratic processes through voter intimidation, suppression, and fear tactics. We unequivocally denounce hate speech, racist vitriol, sexist and misogynistic statements, and divisive rhetoric. Dehumanizing and ridiculing those who do not look like, speak, work, play, or worship the way we do contradicts and undermines Christian values. We urge member denominations and all people of faith and goodwill to outright reject this kind of behavior.
“Voting is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in our democracy. Our faith lets us know that each person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. That means voting is an act of faith and hope. It also means we should not denigrate people who think differently than we do,” said Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC President and General Secretary. “There is room for us to disagree about issues without vilifying those with whom we disagree.”
In an effort to help bring Christians together following an intense election season, NCC is calling for a time of dedicated prayer and fasting for Election Day. A prayer for the election and the days following has been sent to NCC member denominations and can be accessed here.
NCC will also co-host a time of prayer with Faiths United to Save Democracy, “A Call to Prayer for our Nation” at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4. Register for the call here.