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Social Action Committee Launches 2020 Civic Engagement Initiative 

03/03/2020 01:02:48 PM

Mar3

At the recent Biennial in Chicago, representatives of the Religious Action Center (RAC) of the Union of Reform Judaism urged attendees to begin work on nonpartisan civic engagement leading up to the election in 2020. According to Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the RAC:

“We are living in an urgent time—we must work to realize the Reform Movement’s vision of a nation where all people experience justice, compassion, and wholeness. To this end, the Religious Action Center’s nonpartisan Civic Engagement campaign will bring together the Reform Movement to encourage and empower all people to exercise their right to vote. Ensuring that Jewish values are present in the public square, regardless of party or politics, with a special eye toward working in solidarity with disenfranchised communities who have historically been restricted in exercising their right to vote.”

The TBE Social Action Committee has taken up this challenge by forming a civic engagement action team, similar to our other Brit Olam action teams on immigration and racial justice. We plan to support a strong volunteer effort for voter registration and voter turnout from now until Election Day in November 2020, with the help of all interested TBE members. Here’s why we think this is worth your time:

Voter registration work can provide a positive, nonpartisan outlet for action in an election year. Watching political struggles at the state and national level can be intensely frustrating, and people often wonder if there’s any effective way to respond. Voter engagement is a way to ensure that our voices and commitment to social justice are heard. It is also a way to engage with the wider community to ensure that access to voting is a reality for all. It offers a variety of volunteer options: registration tables, mailings, door-to-door, and organizing events.

People are most likely to vote when they hear about it from people they’re connected to. We want TBE to be a 100 percent voting congregation: to make sure that every eligible voter associated with TBE is registered and is able to vote. We will be providing voter registration opportunities and reminders over the course of the year, but you can help by making sure that everyone you know takes advantage of them. Visit for what you can do to ensure that all your friends and family will make it to the polls.

Religious organizations are “trusted messengers” for reliable nonpartisan information. Congregations often have established connection and trust with disenfranchised communities, through service programs and partnerships in local efforts. For TBE, this includes our relationships with Porchlight, The Road Home, the Catholic Multicultural Center, Dane Sanctuary Coalition, and numerous interfaith relationships. The service work we’ve done in the past has laid the groundwork for voter outreach today.

Voter engagement work in Dane County is easy, thanks to our community partners. Our work will be well organized and well supported by civic organizations that have been doing this work for many years. The Madison City Clerk’s Office and the League of Women Voters offer excellent trainings that bring volunteers up to speed on voter registration and voter identification. The League of Women Voters and the Voter ID Coalition send out regular notices about where voter registration services are needed, with simple online signup and the ability to set your own schedule.

We will be in good company. As noted above, the URJ Religious Action Center encourages Reform congregations to do this work, and several sister congregations in Wisconsin will be joining us. (For more on the RAC’s 2020 initiative, Visit “Civic Engagement: Every Congregation Counts, Every Vote Counts.”) In addition, we are working with the Wisconsin Interfaith Civic Engagement Project, which will provide support and keep us connected with our interfaith partners as we move forward. (See here for a recent interview with project leader Rabbi Bonnie Margulis.)

Does this interest you? If so, here are two things you can do today:

Join us as we develop our program. Our first meeting will be March 17, 2020, 7:00–9:00 pm, at Temple Beth El. Questions? Contact Marcia Vandercook.

Sign up for training and volunteer opportunities. See “Three Easy Steps to Register Voters in Dane County.”

April 24, 2024 16 Nisan 5784