An Arizona voter carries her ballot to a polling place to vote in the 2018 primary election in Phoenix. Faith leaders are urging peace at the polls and respect for election workers ahead of the 2026 midterms. Photo by Ralph Freso | Getty Images
Leaders across religions are warning against political violence in November’s midterms, calling for peaceful, respectful participation from both candidates and voters.
In a letter published on Oct. 7, the heads of multiple religious groups, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arizona, the United Islamic Center of Arizona and the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis, emphasized the need to treat election workers with respect and spoke out against “dehumanizing rhetoric.”
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“Across our different traditions, we share a simple moral teaching: to treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated,” the religious leaders wrote. “That commitment does not disappear when we disagree. We reject every attempt to use religion to justify political violence, confer divine authority upon a candidate or party, or portray political opponents as enemies whose dignity no longer matters.”
The message comes as concern over the possibility of President Donald Trump sending election monitors to the polls across the country rises. Federal plans to assign U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the polls were purportedly dropped, but progressive activists fear it could still happen. Some local groups have launched election observer training efforts in the hopes of preventing or at least reporting instances of voter intimidation on Election Day.
The Rev. Katie Sexton, a pastor and the executive director of the Arizona Faith Network, which helped write the letter, said that the intent was to show “unity in a very divided and partisan world.” Sexton added that it isn’t meant to support a specific candidate or party, but rather to remind Arizonans of their values from a religious perspective.
“This letter in no way tells people how to vote or who to vote for,” she said. “It’s just saying: ‘As people of faith, we remind our communities that we are here to be peacemakers in our communities and when the election is over we are (still) going to be neighbors.’”
The letter also strongly advocates for the fair treatment of election workers, and calls on voters to be patient when waiting for results.
“Election workers, volunteers, public servants, and voters are our neighbors,” it reads. “They deserve gratitude, respect, and protection as they fulfill their responsibilities within the democratic process.”
In recent years, the Republican Party has been particularly critical of elections and the people who run them, lobbing evidence-free accusations of fraud against election workers. The result has been an increase in the number of death threats sent to election workers, including those without front-facing jobs, like at the Arizona Secretary of State or county recorders’ offices. And two years ago, election conspiracy theories prompted armed extremists to monitor ballot drop boxes in Maricopa County.
But Sexton stressed that the letter isn’t targeting a political party. Instead, it’s condemning violent actions and rhetoric no matter where it comes from, she said.
“We’re addressing behaviors and not addressing parties,” Sexton said. “We are called to be respectful of everyone, no matter how they vote.”
The letter is one part of a multi-pronged “Faithful voter campaign” organized by the Arizona Faith Network, which includes virtual rallies, community meetings, a voter mobilization bus tour and a peacekeeper training effort. The network has so far trained over 140 people to monitor polls, and hopes to reach up to 200 in time for Election Day.
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Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
