Official Statement From MWEG on a Faith-Based Defense of the Freedom to Vote

As faith-inspired activists and advocates for ethical governance, we are deeply motivated by our belief that every individual is an infinitely valuable child of God. Our love of democratic governance is a natural outgrowth of this, as is our passionate desire to protect it.

The freedom to vote is a clear political manifestation of the individual worth of souls. Ensuring that right for all citizens is an expression of the second great commandment within our political systems — to love our neighbors as ourselves. We cannot claim to truly love our neighbors if we also deny their constitutional right to participate equally in the formation of our shared government.

We encourage every American citizen to be aware of the threats to this foundational right and to actively participate in efforts to protect it. Inform yourselves about your representatives’ positions on voting rights, even if your own rights feel secure. Voter restriction is often enacted using laws that appear neutral to majority populations but are nonetheless carefully constructed to exclude specific communities. Such laws are more likely to affect those who already have difficulty voting. We believe restrictive voting laws are an expression of enmity against our neighbors, and by allowing such laws to take effect we are complicit in that enmity. 

Finally, we caution our elected leaders, particularly those of faith who privately affirm the worth of souls, that this is a moment of national inflection. Honor the commandment to love your neighbor. You have the power to manifest that love in clearly codified and protective laws that defend their individual rights. Voting is the ultimate bulwark against those who would use enmity to exercise undue control over other children of God. We must prioritize its protection. We admonish you to enact legislation that will protect election systems, electoral processes, and the individual right to vote.

Democratic governance affirms the worth of souls. As a society, we must guard against every social, political, and legal effort that seeks to deny anyone the right of self-determination. We are all equal before God.