VOTE 2020

As the 2020 election season heats up, Interfaith Alliance just made available the newly launched Vote 2020 program. It is designed to assist voters, candidates, clergy, and religious institutions in navigating thorny issues regarding the role of religion in partisan elections. You'll find this & more:

- Vote 2020: 5 Questions for Candidates about Religion in Public Life

- Running for Office in a Religiously Diverse Nation: A Guide for Candidates

- Vote 2020: A Guide for Houses of Worship

In 1960, then-presidential candidate John F. Kennedy's Catholicism was a topic of discussion in some circles. Instead of ignoring the rumors, he chose to address his faith directly. Kennedy said that the issue was not what kind of church he believed in, but what kind of America he believed in. On that, he left no doubt, saying, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.”

How a candidate treats religion on the campaign trail not only impacts the lives of American voters, but also previews the policies they might pursue while in office. These resources will help voters ask meaningful questions of those seeking their support and assist candidates looking to engage with religiously diverse voters from a place of respect.

President Kennedy pledged to address issues of conscience out of a focus on the national interest, not out of adherence to the dictates of one religion. It’s up to us to ensure that every candidate in 2020 will commit to doing the same. In solidarity,

Katy Joseph Policy and Legislation Advisor