An Election Year Guide
for Houses of Worship
An election year poses a challenge to churches as they live
between being neutral to candidates but informed and prophetic about issues which the
church can and should claim a voice around. Striking a balance can be difficult
and confusing.
The Interfaith Alliance
Foundation has published a brochure with dos and don'ts and real suggestions for
houses of worship in an election year. Here are some highlights.
Caution
Things you can do
Things to be cautious about doing
Things you may not do
Making a Difference
Interfaith Alliance Foundation information
Caution:
These dos and don't deal only with
election-related activities. You should always check with the IRS and a lawyer
regarding contemplated political activities.
If you violate section 501(c)(3), you could jeopardize your tax-exempt
status. The IRS could revoke your status for one or more years, or even permanently
and retroactively. The IRS can also decide to impose financial penalties for
improper activities.
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Things you can do:
*You may arrange for meetings between groups and elected officials to discuss issues.
*You may invite all candidates to a forum, debate, or candidates' night.
Don't attempt to "rate" their responses to questions. Don't ask the
audience to "vote" on who "won" or "lost" the debate.
The best format for these forums was developed by the League of Women Voters.
Contact them for information.
*You may conduct a voter registration drive as long as it is open to anyone regardless of
the party with which they register.
*You may encourage people to vote in elections and stress the importance of issues facing
your community as long as you do not advocate for a position on an issue or suggest that
one political party or candidate is more or less deserving of their votes.
*You may invite a political candidate to speak on your property so long as you extend the
same invitation to all candidates in the race. However, candidates may not be
allowed to raise funds for their campaigns during the visit.
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Things to be cautious about
doing:
*You may endorse candidates as an individual, but you must be very careful that your
endorsement cannot in any way be interpreted as an endorsement on behalf of your religious
organization.
*You may distribute unbiased candidate questionnaires that cover a range of issues.
The key word is "unbiased." Materials that suggest that one candidate is
preferable to another or that one candidate's answers are "better" than
another's can fail the test of non-partisanship. If you distribute candidate
surveys, you must include all candidates for the office, and you may not edit their
answers. Be especially careful that your questions do not suggest a
"correct" answer.
*If you wish to provide the names of the members of your congregation to a candidate, you
must make them available to all o other candidates in that race for the same cost and
under identical circumstances.
*If you charge a fee for civic groups to use your meeting space, hall or other facilities,
you should charge a political candidate or candidates the same to use your space.
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Things you may not do:
*You may not endorse a candidate, potential candidate, third-party movement, or candidate
draft effort.
*You may not focus your organization's voter registration or other election-related
activities in specific target areas, including influential, crucial, or partisan districts
or wards.
*You may not coordinate your house of worship's voter registration or get-out-the-vote
drives with a candidate or political party.
*You may not organize groups to work for a candidate.
*You may not use an informational issue guide or vote guide to disparage or endorse a
particular candidate.
*You may not ask a candidate to pledge support for your religious institution's position
on an issue.
*You may not provide anything of value - space, equipment, staff time - without charging
full market value and allowing equal access to all candidates.
*You may not provide space for the distribution of campaign or other partisan materials on
your property.
*You may not send communications to members of your congregation or employees suggesting
to them how they should vote.
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Making a Difference
Religious leaders play an important and unique role in our democratic
process by encouraging the involvement of members of their congregations in the debate
over civic issues and by urging their active participation in electing our public
officials. Culminating in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s, our nation's
houses of worship have been in the forefront of educating and activating people of faith
around social justice issues.
As we being the second millennium, our houses of worship are once again
being called upon to witness to their members about the central importance of thoughtful
and prayerful civic participation. We are seeing the erosion of public confidence in
our institutions of government and of the processes by which we choose our leaders and
representatives. In the face of this increasing cynicism, our houses of worship are
uniquely qualified not only to demand excellence from our candidates and elected
officials, but also to restore the public's faith in the political process.
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation
1012 14th Street, N.W.
Suite 700
Washington DC 20005
(202) 639-6370
www.interfaithalliance.org
For additional information
from the Interfaith Alliance: (PDF download)
Religion
and Politics: A Guide for Houses of Worship
IRS
Fact Sheet 2006-17
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