Interest in this year’s midterm elections was unusually high all across the nation. UUSJ’s voter mobilization and Get-Out-the-Vote project contributed to UU engagement by expanding partnerships, connecting individuals and congregations with justice initiatives, and preparing a new resource to support dialogue with candidates on key issues. The project was funded in part by the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program.

Our voter mobilization webpage was the central location for information on networking and resources for state-by-state voter registration information, phone banking, webinars, and GOTV tools and events. The updated UUSJ GOTV toolkit, new and unique Guide to Questions for Candidates, and 2 webinars (UUs Mobilizing Towards Electoral Justice: Strategizing for the 2018 Midterms and Phone Banking for Electoral Justice) provided activists with essentials for effective congregational voter engagement programs.

We supported the UUA in connecting UUs with a major voting restoration initiative in Florida. Congregations connected with Second Chances Florida to organize phone banks and encourage voters to support Amendment 4. The ballot initiative, which was passed, amends the Florida state constitution and restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. Over 1.4 million people in Florida have now had their voting rights restored.

With our partner, New Virginia Majority, UUs in the metropolitan Washington, DC area, participated in voter registration and canvassing activities, especially in communities in northern Virginia.

The UUSJ Guide to Questions for Candidates 2018 is an important and unique addition to voter engagement resources. It includes questions on issues of concern in immigration justice, economic security, and environmental and climate justice, that advocates can pose to candidates during public forums and other meetings. The guide includes responses from the UU perspective and can help inform congregational and community discussions on the issues. It is out hope that the Guide will continue to be a useful moving forward and in the next election cycle.

Preparations for the 2020 general election are already on the horizon. UUSJ is ready to build on the successes of our 2016 and 2018 GOTV projects and to work with organizational and congregational partners as we continue to affirm and promote the seven Principles which inspire our civic engagement and support of the democratic process.