As the November 3 midterm elections approach, faith leaders from a broad range of religious traditions are preparing to serve as volunteer poll chaplains in nine battleground states, aiming to reduce voter intimidation and foster a calm environment at polling locations. The initiative, coordinated by the nonpartisan coalition Faiths United in Saving Democracy, will deploy over 1,200 clergy members and lay peacekeepers across Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Texas.
These volunteers, trained in de-escalation techniques and immigrant rights, will remain outside polling centers wearing identifying hats and vests to provide visible, reassuring support to voters. The coalition’s leadership notes a growing concern that the presence of federal immigration agents, even if not officially sanctioned to enforce immigration laws at polls, could deter eligible voters from participating, particularly in communities with mixed immigration status or among people of color.
Although the Department of Homeland Security has stated it does not plan to station agents at polling sites, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin acknowledged agents could appear for specific law enforcement purposes, such as executing warrants. In response, Faiths United in Saving Democracy has conducted both online and in-person trainings to equip poll chaplains with the resources and confidence to respond to potential voter intimidation.
Barbara Williams-Skinner, co-founder of the coalition, emphasized the unusual and diverse nature of these alliances, which include leaders from Black churches, Quaker organizations, Baptist congregations, imams, rabbis, and secular peacekeepers. The coalition maintains a strictly nonpartisan stance, focusing solely on ensuring all eligible voters can cast ballots without fear.
Recent years have seen polling places targeted by protests and intimidation efforts, with incidents including protests near ballot drop boxes in Arizona and disruptions at vote-counting centers in Detroit. Faith leaders such as the Rev. Steve Bland of Detroit, who protected voters during the 2020 election turmoil, stress the importance of moral support and calm communication to encourage voting despite tense atmospheres. Another participant, the Rev. Bankole Akinbinu of Raleigh, North Carolina, highlighted voter suppression concerns and his efforts to engage younger volunteers from college campuses.
Experts suggest that while political violence has increased nationwide, election officials remain well-trained and capable of managing the voting process. Nevertheless, the presence of chaplains and peacekeepers can help alleviate the anxieties breeding from heightened political polarization and conflicting narratives about election integrity.
The role of faith leaders as peacemakers extends beyond the church, with many clergy drawn to the chaplaincy as a means of serving communities in moments of social stress. Training sessions held shortly before the election have brought together diverse religious figures, including Rabbi Emily Segal of Scottsdale’s Temple Chai, who sees the work as aligned with Jewish teachings on justice and community wellbeing.
Individual volunteers underscore a faith-driven commitment to ensuring equal access to voting. The Rev. Katie Sexton of Arizona described the ballot box as a place where all individuals stand equal, a reflection of deeply held spiritual principles. Similar sentiments are echoed across traditions—from Bridget Moix, a Quaker traveling to Ohio, to Reirin Gumbel of the Milwaukee Zen Center, who draws on Buddhist teachings of compassion and shared rights. Imam Mohammed Ali Elahi of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, expressed a desire to counteract anti-Muslim rhetoric by standing for universal values of truth, justice, and dignity.
As tensions rise in key states, these interfaith efforts represent a collective attempt to safeguard democratic participation through peaceful presence and mutual respect on election day.