Interfaith coalition deploys poll chaplains to US battleground states

A nonpartisan coalition called Faiths United in Saving Democracy is deploying over 1,200 volunteer poll chaplains and peacekeepers to nine US battleground states for the upcoming elections. These volunteers, representing various religious traditions including Quaker, Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist faiths, will station themselves outside polling centers in Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Texas.

The initiative aims to provide a calm, reassuring presence to mitigate voter intimidation and political tension. Co-founder Barbara Williams-Skinner noted that the effort seeks to address fears that the presence of federal immigration agents could create a chilling effect, potentially deterring eligible voters in communities of color and mixed-immigration-status families. While Department of Homeland Security officials have stated they have no plans to send agents to polls, officials noted they could appear to execute specific warrants.

Participants in the program receive training in de-escalation techniques, immigrant rights, and emergency protocols to assist in maintaining a peaceful voting environment.