As people of faith, we have always held the right to vote as a sacred obligation. The mobilized our faith communities in 2024 to help make sure every eligible voter was able to cast their vote. This work paid off as we saw the greatest voter turnout nationwide in US history. That turnout was a great victory for democracy. But there is more work to be done.

Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign (WIVEC) mobilizes our faith communities to engage in the democratic process. We believe that this work will build increased understanding and stronger ties among different faith communities; increase involvement in the electoral process; and result in a greater understanding of the positive role faith communities can play in the public square. WIVEC is a non-partisan campaign committed to promoting voter engagement, sharing voter education opportunities, resisting voter suppression, and advocating for the rights of all Wisconsinites.

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Imagine rooms full of people from multiple faiths enjoying respectful dialogue, food, and fellowship leading up to this coming July 4: gatherings to consider the meaning and blessing of our country’s founding. We can create this together: a once-in-a-generation opportunity for neighbors to meet neighbors, a chance to regain unity through conversation about some of America’s most inspiring words.  Through our multi-faith network of local congregations, we can spark a movement to counter the division and toxicity that threaten to tear the country apart, and instead make 2026 a year of unification - a massive community celebration, a conversation about the values that sustain this country.

WIVEC has joined Faith 250 and invites faith leaders and communities across Wisconsin to form clusters of congregations to act as sacred spaces for listening to one another, clarifying our shared civic values, and celebrating our hopes for America. We are currently working in Milwaukee and Appleton to form clergy clusters.  Please contact us to join this incredible opportunity!  Gather with fellow clergy leaders, learn about other faith traditions and solutions to preserving our nation’s heritage, and reflect on the challenges and beauty of this shared democracy.

The approach is to work in three components: 

  1. Clergy relationship-building through small group study of some of America’s sacred texts: 

    1. The Declaration of Independence

    2. What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

    3. The New Colossus 

    4. America the Beautiful

  2. Building multi-congregation fellowship by breaking boundaries and discussing these same texts in larger clergy-led gatherings; 

  3. In person celebrations designed by each local community, flooding the zone with hope around July 4th next summer.

Please email our Statewide Interfaith Organizer, Rhonda Lindner at rhonda@thi-milwaukee.org, if you have any questions or to share your interest in this fabulous project!  We can’t wait to see you at Faith 250!

Appleton Clergy Cohort Register Here
Milwaukee Clergy Cohort Register Here

Poll Chaplain Program

WHAT POLL CHAPLAINS ARE PROVIDED

  • Online training in nonpartisan guidelines, active bystander skills, and problem solving scenarios given by expert presenters.
    (about a 90 minute commitment)

  • Chaplain identification vests, hats, and badges.

  • Prior communication with and relationship established with election clerks.

  • Election Day expert support and communication.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Who can serve as a poll chaplain? 
    We would prefer ordained clergy or faith leaders who have taken Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or the equivalent.

  • What is the time commitment on Election Day? 
    You can choose the block of time that works for you. Ideally we would like you to be available at peak times -
    when the polls open, lunch time, and the last few hours of the day.

  • Who will I work with?  
    We encourage people to work in pairs.
    You can invite a nonpartisan colleague to work with you or we will try to find you a partner. ​

  • Since 2020, WIVEC has been the leader in the state-wide Wisconsin Poll Chaplain program.
    We offer our 2024 program in partnership with the Wisconsin Council of Churches.

  • WIVEC recruits, trains, and organizes clergy and faith leaders to serve as
    nonpartisan poll chaplains on Election Day.

  • Poll Chaplains provide a peaceful presence, a sense of security, and a calming influence at the polling site
    following all WI state voting guidelines.  

  • Faith leaders employ their pastoral and interpersonal skills with those present at the polls while monitoring the election site for any signs of voter intimidation or suppression.
    ​