Healthy elections are a cornerstone of healthy democracy.
At their best, elections enable diverse Americans to come together in a shared task, making their voices heard and working together across difference to ensure the functioning of our democratic system.
“We believe that democracy is a deeply held Hindu value – it allows each individual to pursue their choices and celebrates the diversity in our shared humanity.”
– Ria Chakrabarty, Hindus for Human Rights
At their worst, elections are a divisive battleground that seem to pit Americans against each other and against the systems that enable our shared life.
An increasing number of Americans across the political spectrum lack confidence in our elections, even as hundreds of thousands of Americans from all walks of life work together to administer free, fair, and safe elections.
How can we help Americans feel confident in elections? And when they don’t, how can we ensure that Americans still engage with our election systems in a constructive, pluralistic, and non-violent way?
Civic and faith leaders and organizations have an outsized role to play in promoting healthy engagement with US elections. These leaders hold deep credibility and influence in their communities and make up a crucial civic infrastructure to help our communities deliver on the promise of our democracy.
“We equip faith leaders, deploy Clergy at the Polls, counter disinformation, and support safe, accessible voting while remaining strictly nonpartisan.”
– Reverend Katie Sexton, Arizona Faith Network
The 2026 Vote is Sacred Fellowship brings together civic and faith leaders to devise strategies and projects that will promote constructive engagement with elections in the 2026 midterms, and to discuss difficult questions around our elections.
The 2026 Vote is Sacred Fellows represent a wide diversity of identities, views, and beliefs, enabling them to practice pluralism and model cooperation. The lessons learned in the fellowship will be used to inform elections work and public conversations around the country.
“I think there is an opportunity to learn how individuals who have a different faith accomplish this work.”
– Ray B. Shackelford, National Urban League
Over the course of the program, fellows will learn pluralism practices and strategies for leveraging faith in elections. Fellows will coordinate their elections work at the state and national levels. They will receive grant funding to implement the Faith in Elections Playbook (FIEP), a nonpartisan resource to inspire everyday people to do their part to ensure free and fair elections. And they will form a supportive network, reaching across divides to work together, and uplifting each other in their sacred work on elections.
“I’ve come to recognize that the changes I want to help foster in the world call for bridgebuilding across faiths and ideologies.”
– Paul Golin, Society for Humanistic Judaism
The 2026 Vote is Sacred Fellows are:
- Jane Andersen, Mormon Women for Ethical Government
- Jeremy Bannett, A More Perfect Union
- Ria Chakrabarty, Hindus for Human Rights
- Tom Crick, The Carter Center
- Jennifer Daniels, Faithful Citizenship Institute
- Michele Dunne, Franciscan Action Network
- Paul Golin, Society for Humanistic Judaism
- Sarah Hunt, The Rainey Center
- Aasees Kaur, Sikh Coalition
- Matthew Kendziera, Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign
- Rev. Carlos Malave, Latino Christian National Network
- Rev. Katie Sexton, Arizona Faith Network
- Ray B. Shackelford, National Urban League
- Maggie Siddiqi, Interfaith Alliance
- Barbara Williams-Skinner, Faiths United to Save Democracy
