"THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS ALMOST SACRED. IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL NONVIOLENT TOOL WE HAVE IN A DEMOCRACY." -- REP. JOHN LEWIS
iNTERFAITH VOTER ENGAGEMENT
As people of faith, we have always held the right to vote as a sacred obligation. The mobilized our faith communities in 2020 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.
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.
poll chaplain program
WIVEC’s POLL CHAPLAIN PROGRAM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- 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.
- 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.
Please register by Oct. 18th to be a poll chaplain
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE
Register to Vote
To find out if you’re already registered to vote, or to find information on how to register to vote, please follow this link: Register to Vote WHAT YOU NEED
Once registered, you will need a valid photo ID. Examples include but are not limited to:
Check out this link for more information about getting a Voter ID in Wisconsin. Polling Places Find Wisconsin polling locations here. |
Trustworthy elections
The issue of Election Integrity has deeply polarized Americans of all parties. As an Interfaith community, we can begin to rebuild this trust by sharing data, facts, and narratives that bring us together not further apart.
How Faith Organizations Have the Power
to Create Solutions 1. Addressing polarization by holding deep listening
sessions within our own organizations, and faith- based communities . 2. Sharing trustworthy information on accurate voting power (through resources and online links). 3. Recruiting poll workers, as there is a crucial need for them throughout Wisconsin. 4. Building relationship with local election clerks |
For a workshop either in person or online,
please contact our Statewide Interfaith Organizer,
Rhonda Lindner, at [email protected].
please contact our Statewide Interfaith Organizer,
Rhonda Lindner, at [email protected].
wivec Leadership
Rhonda Lindner Interfaith Organizer |
Rhonda concurrently works as the Education Director at Tikkun Ha-Ir, a partner of WIVEC. In her time at WIVEC, Rhonda has cultivated relationships with many of WIVEC’s other partners in the civic engagement landscape, as well as many interfaith and community organizations all over Wisconsin. She currently serves on committees focusing on voting rights, housing equity, racial justice, Interfaith collaboration, and Interfaith engagement.
After 27 years as an English and Spanish teacher in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Rhonda says her work with WIVEC and Tikkun Ha-Ir is "the opportunity of a lifetime, and the fruition of her goals for social justice.” She currently lives in Grafton with her husband, Rob, and her dog, Joey. She has two grown children, a daughter in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and a son in Minneapolis, Minnesota. |
Matthew Kendziera Executive Director, Wisconsin faith voices for justice |
Matthew Kendziera is a non-profit leader and dynamic communicator with over 2 decades of experience in justice related work. He has worked with non-profits fighting against poverty, human trafficking and school violence both on a local and national level partnering with dynamic organizations including Rachels Challenge, Fierce Freedom, Soularize, Celtic Way, Ashoka and others.
In accepting this position with WFVJ, Mr. Kendziera said, “I am humbled and honored at the opportunity to be the next Executive Director at WFVJ! Thank you to Rabbi Margulis for all of the incredible work she has done over the past 13 years! One of my primary goals will be to keep the heart and vision that she had for the organization, and to build on those successes to bring WFVJ to the next level.” |
Alex Kushner Interfaith organizer for UW Madison campus and dane co |
Alex will work on connecting UW-Madison faith groups with Dane County congregations to help promote voter engagement and voter education opportunities. He will help guide students to become leaders on campus and grow their confidence in working with both fellow students and the wider community population. Our focus will be voter registration and understanding the tools at our disposal to access voting.
In addition to his WIVEC role, Alex works for Temple Beth El Madison as their Teen Youth Group advisor and is also an automotive design engineer for Cummins. His work with TBE Madison has given him extensive skills in youth engagement, and he has extensive nonprofit coordination experience from his time on the community engagement committee at Cummins. He currently lives right outside of Madison with his wife Sydney and their two cats. |
Beth Patton Statewide poll chaplain organizer |
Rev. Beth Patton is a life-long Presbyterian, a PK (preacher’s kid), and an ordained pastor in the PC(USA) for 10 years serving in parish ministry. Prior to that, for over 25 years Beth has served on church staffs and with community-based organizations in various programmatic, worship, and administrative capacities working with all age groups. She has a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies and Community Planning from the University of New Mexico and she earned her MDiv. from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, CA.
Beth grew up in a family where civic participation and voting were highly valued and she and her husband have continued that practice with their family. Beth has served as a poll worker for several elections and feels that participating in and protecting our nation’s democracy is an important role and example as a person of faith. She is honored to be serving as part of the WIVEC team. |
Katina Maclin election integrity intern |
My name is Katina L. Maclin, I am a recent graduate of Nicolet High School. At Nicolet, I was a multi-award winning top student-athlete, mentor, Sources of Strength Peer Leader and lastly a member of the Hebrew Club. I have been interning with Civic Engagement initiatives since 2021 and working with WIVEC since 2022.
My aim is to gain knowledge while educating others on the importance of spreading the narrative of Election Integrity. I am thrilled to work on this through an interfaith lens, individually and collaboratively. I plan to use my communication, creative, and researching skills to execute this initiative. I am eager to continue this great work. |
Sorina Mascara Statewide voter engagement intern |
Hello, my name is Sorina, and I am so excited to be a part of WIVEC’s team this summer! I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and spend my summers on Little Cedar Lake, at my family's cabin. I moved to Dallas, Texas before my freshman year of high school, where I enjoy playing tennis and running track and field for my school. On top of that, I love to keep myself busy working at an acai bowl shop, volunteering at my local animal shelter, and exploring Dallas with my friends on the weekends! I am so inspired by all the work that WIVEC does to encourage voter engagement, and I can’t wait to work with the team more!
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