Ideas for Social Concerns Committees and Respect Life Committees
Tips for Conducting Non-partisan Voter Education and Voter Registration
In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.
—United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, No. 13
In an era when more and more people worldwide are gaining the right to vote, many Americans do not take advantage of this right. More than fifty million American citizens of voting age are not registered to vote.
Catholic social teaching strongly promotes active citizenship. Through our opportunities as citizens, we can help shape a world more committed to protecting human life and dignity and promoting justice and peace. In their 2007 statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops state, "In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation” (No. 13).
The following ideas and suggestions are designed to help parishes promote civic responsibility by offering non-partisan voter education rooted in the values of the Scriptures and Catholic teaching. They are intended to be adapted to the unique needs and opportunities of each parish community.
Non-partisan Voter Education
A key task of social concerns and pro-life committees is to help parishioners understand how the lessons of Scripture and the teaching of the Church provide guidance for the many issues facing our communities, nation and world. This task should be carried out year in and year out, but it is especially important during the year leading up to a major election. If, well in advance of the election, opportunities exist for parishioners to learn about the principles of Catholic social teaching and how these principles have been applied to important issues, it will be much easier for them to use their faith as their guide for political choices.
The best parish non-partisan voter education campaigns will include the following three distinct steps. To avoid the appearance of partisanship and to avoid violating laws regarding political activities, it is critical that these three steps not be undertaken simultaneously. It is essential to obtain approval from your diocesan attorney before using any voter education materials provided by groups other than your diocese, your state Catholic conference, or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Step One: Offer education about how Scripture and Catholic social teaching can provide a framework of values that can be used to assess candidates, parties, and issues.
Include an excerpt from Catholic social teaching in each bulletin, so parishioners become familiar over time with its key themes and principles. Download bulletin inserts and quotes in PDF.
Hold a Scripture reflection session when participants can discuss lessons from the Scripture and how they can be applied to our world. Possible Scripture passages for consideration include
- Dt 30:19
- Ps 139:13-14
- Dt 24:17-22
- Zec 7:9-10
- Lk 10:25-37
- Jer 22:16
- Mt 25:31-46
- Jas 2:14-17
- Lk 4:18
Distribute the cards with seven key themes from Catholic social teaching (Themes from Catholic Social Teaching) at all Masses one Sunday.
Host a discussion session on Catholic social teaching using the Themes from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching cards, and the video and the discussion guide on seven themes of Catholic social teaching, In the Footsteps of Jesus.
Sponsor an adult education session using the video Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship and the “Goals for Political Life” outlined in the bishops’ statement.
Distribute the parish bulletin version of the bishops’ statement The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship at all Masses one Sunday.
Encourage small faith communities and other parish organizations to use the strategies above to study Catholic social teaching and the bishops’ statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.
You can find a wide range of adult education resources and session plans on Catholic social teaching and Faithful Citizenship on www.faithfulcitizenship.org. Your diocesan staff for social action, pro-life, and education, as well as your state Catholic conference, can provide assistance and ideas about speakers.
Step Two: Hold an independent voter registration drive at a time consistent with your state’s elections laws.
See the suggestions below for strategies and important legal considerations.
Step Three: Shortly before the election, conduct an independent voter education effort involving candidate surveys and other information approved by your diocesan attorney or state Catholic conference.
* Contact your diocesan staff for social action, pro-life, education, and others, as well as your state Catholic conference, to see if they have conducted a survey of candidates.
Bulletin Insert
Include quotes from the bishops' statement in your parish bulletin the weekend before the election, for instance:
Faithful Citizenship
“In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.”
—United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, No. 13Next Tuesday, November 4, 2008, the national and local elections will be held. We urge all parishioners to exercise their right and responsibility to vote.
Non-partisan Parish Voter Registration Drives
Why Non-partisan Parish Voter Registration Drives Are Important
Non-partisan voter registration drives are excellent opportunities to educate parishioners about the Church’s teaching regarding the importance of civic responsibility and active citizenship. Not only will you register new voters, but you will communicate the importance of voting to all other parish members present at the Mass or the meeting where the drive is conducted. Even if you only register a few voters, the message will reach many more.
Parishes are among the few institutions that can reach groups notably under-registered or under-represented in the political process:
Low-Income People: According to the U. S. Census Bureau, in 2006 only 34 percent of eligible voters whose families made under $25,000 per year actually voted, compared to 64 percent of all eligible voters.
Racial and Ethnic Minorities: African Americans, Hispanics, and other racial and ethnic minorities have voter participation rates significantly below the national average. The National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry endorses a program of awareness of Christian responsibility and a national campaign for voter registration. The National Black Catholic Pastoral Plan calls for parishes to develop a sense of social consciousness and to advocate for social change and social development, which could include parish-based voter registration.
New Citizens, Immigrants, and Former Refugees: New citizens are often anxious to exercise their voting rights, but are confused about the process. A parish voter registration campaign can help educate them about when and where they can vote. It can also present an opportunity to identify those who wish to become citizens. They can then be referred to your diocesan office for immigrants and refugees, which is often associated with Catholic Charities.
Youth: Young people vote at an alarmingly low rate compared to the rest of the adult population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006 only 24 percent of all young people between the ages of 18 and 24 voted.
Women: While women are now registering and voting in larger numbers, they are still under-represented in the political process.
Ten Easy Steps for Organizing a Non-partisan Voter Registration Drive
1. Meet with your pastor and thoroughly discuss the plans for the non-partisan drive. Solicit ideas from him on how to make it successful. If appropriate, obtain the approval of the parish council. You may want to discuss these options:
Use bulletin inserts on issues or bulletin quotes from the bishops’ statement during the weeks preceding the election.
Publicize the voter registration drive in the bulletin and in the announcements at Mass, two weeks, and again one week, prior to the drive. (See sample bulletin announcements below.)
Put fliers or posters at the back of the church, in the hall, and at other appropriate locations.
Put tables in the vestibule or outside church after Mass one weekend to conduct a non-partisan registration drive.
Include a message in the homily about the Church’s teaching on civic responsibility on the weekend preceding your registration drive, or the weekend preceding the election. Homily Suggestions
2. Form a committee if you need help conducting the drive. Committee members can help research voter registration laws, recruit volunteers, and carry out publicity. To avoid the appearance of partisanship, be sure to include members of all major political parties.
3. Learn the registration procedures: Requirements vary by state and county. Contact your local election office to determine what methods are permitted in your area. In some areas, only official registrars are allowed to register voters, and your election office will have to send someone to help with your registration. In other areas, volunteers can be deputized as registrars if they attend a training session. Some election offices will even arrange a special training for your group.
4. Choose a weekend to conduct the drive after Masses. In some areas, registration closes as much as two months before the election. Check with your local election office and be sure to plan ahead.
5. Recruit volunteers to help with registration after each Mass on the weekend you have chosen. Be clear about how many volunteers you need (ideally, one for every exit after each Saturday and Sunday liturgy). You may want to ask a men’s or women’s club, the social concerns committee, or other parish organizations, to help identify volunteers. Have volunteers and forms in all the languages appropriate for your parish. Also, to avoid the appearance of partisanship, make sure your volunteers include members of all major political parties.
6. Meet or telephone each volunteer, and make sure he or she knows the process your parish is using. Tell your volunteers when and where they will be needed, and for how long; what they need to do to be deputized as registrars; where they will find registration materials on the day of the drive; what to do with the registrations when they are finished (some states require the registrar who received the completed registration form to return it to the election office; others allow forms from many registrars to be collected and returned by one person); and what to do if they get a question they can’t answer. Be sure to advise them they must keep the drive non-partisan. Absolutely no comments or suggestions can be made about what party affiliation a person should register or how a person should vote in the election.
7. Publicize your registration drive: You can use bulletin announcements, pulpit announcements, fliers, posters, and other materials. Some sample bulletin announcements are shown below.
8. Conduct the drive.
Keep it non-partisan! Absolutely no suggestions can be made about what party affiliation people should register. No materials relating to candidates, political parties, or issues involved in the campaign, or of interest to the parish or sponsoring organization (including voter education materials), should be distributed as part of the voter registration process. Make sure your volunteers include members of all major political parties.
Set up the tables, one at each exit, with plenty of pens, registration forms, and instructions for volunteers.
9. Follow up.
Make sure all completed registration forms are returned to the election office.
Thank your volunteers and your pastor for their cooperation.
10. Get out the vote! On the weekend before the election, use bulletin inserts, pulpit announcements, the homily, fliers, and other materials to encourage parishioners to vote. If you know of someone who may need a ride to the polls, try to arrange one. Here are some sample bulletin announcements:
Sample Bulletin Announcements
Include these two weeks, and again one week, prior to the drive:
Voter Registration
____________ Parish will be conducting a non-partisan voter registration drive after all Masses on Saturday and Sunday, ___________.
As our bishops remind us, "In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” We urge you to register and vote in the upcoming election. There will be tables at each exit with registration cards. If you are not registered or have moved recently, please take time to register.
The day of the drive
Voter Registration
Today we are conducting a non-partisan voter registration drive. Forms are available on tables at each exit. If you are not registered, please stop and fill out one of the registration forms. As Catholics, we have an obligation to promote the common good by exercising our right to vote. We urge you to register today.
Vote, and the choice is yours.
Don’t vote, and the choice is theirs.
Register, or you have no choice!
