Voting and Faith: the ELCA approach and how you can get involved

It has been said, “a vote is a kind of prayer about the kind of world we want to live in.”

This year’s elections – the primary election on August 11, 2026 and the midterm election on November 3, 2026 – will have a profound effect on who we are as a community and a nation. Informed civil engagement has always been a priority for the ELCA. Being proactive in voting and helping others exercise their rights is an important expression of our faith. 

In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), civic engagement as a public good is both our calling as Christians and a responsibility for residents of the United States. Civic engagement takes numerous forms, including participation in public meetings, informed voting, policy advocacy, community organizing, nonviolent protest and others. This engagement with God’s work in the political sphere is based on careful discernment that transcends partisanship. 
(Being a Public Church in the Electoral Process, ELCA Advocacy Guide 2026)

Our responsibilities as Lutherans and citizens requires that we both be informed and engaged – informed about how to exercise our right to vote and the choices we face and engaged – taking advantage of available opportunities to make sure the right to vote for all eligible voters is respected. Midvale Community Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Interfaith VoterEngagement Campaign (WIVEC). WIVEC is a non-partisan group made up of people of various faith groups active throughout Wisconsin. WIVEC frequently partners with the League of Women Voters (LWV). Both groups engage in educational and service activities to protect the right to vote. They send regular email updates with information about volunteer opportunities, proposed legislation and other matters relating to the right to vote. Whatever your interests , abilities, or availability there are options for everyone to create value by expressing your faith through action. If you would like to receive these weekly email updates please contact the church office at info@midvalelutheran.org to be added to Midvale's WIVEC group. Midvale member Ben Kempinen coordinates forwarding the WIVEC and LWV emails to interested members. 

Additional resources and information you may find of value include:

The MyVoteWisconsin website of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. 

The Vote411 website of the League of Women’s Voters Education fund which provides both local and national voting information.