Ready to protect democracy? – First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

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Image description: The UU the Vote logo with “UU the Vote” in white block letters on a dark blue background. Beneath, in light blue text, reads “Ignite Solidarity, Reimagine Democracy.” To the right is the UUA chalice logo in a yellow/red gradient color with three light blue stars underneath.

Ready to protect democracy?Defending democracy requires protecting voters, safeguarding elections, and building the power of our communities. There is a role for everyone in this midterm election season—but we have to get started now.

Since 2020, UU the Vote has recruited more than 200 poll workers, trained 300 election defenders, registered thousands of voters, and reached millions more through our get-out-the-vote efforts.

This fall, join UU the Vote and our partners to learn, organize, and take action. Our upcoming events focus on three essential parts of democracy work:

Protecting Our Elections and Voters
Mobilizing Values Voters
Building Grassroot Power and Solidarity

1. Protect Our Elections and Voters

Poll Workers Wanted: Info Session with Power the Polls
Tuesday, August 11 @ 7–8:00 PM ET / 4-5 PM PT

Take direct action to protect our elections by becoming a poll worker! In celebration of National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, our partners at Power the Polls will join us to talk about why poll workers are essential to free and fair elections, what the role involves, and how you can serve in your community.

Site & Event Safety: Defending Democracy Means Protecting the Commons
Wednesday, August 19 @ 7–9 PM ET / 4-6 PM PTBuilding a multiracial democracy means creating the conditions for people to participate safely in public life.Join us for special UU the Vote Office Hours dedicated to site and event safety. We’ll discuss practical strategies for creating safer spaces at town halls, rallies, Solidarity Summits, polling-related activities, and other public gatherings.Together, we’ll explore how communities can prepare for and respond to escalating political violence while practicing collective care, thoughtful risk discernment, and shared responsibility.

2. Mobilize Values Voters

GOTV, IVE, Oh My! UU the Vote Office Hours
Wednesday, September 2 @ 7–9 PM ET / 4-6 PM PT

Curious about the alphabet soup of electoral organizing?

Join us to unpack the core concepts, tools, and strategies of faith-based voter engagement. We’ll demystify terms like GOTV and IVE, share proven organizing practices, and help your congregation develop a clear strategy for reaching voters and protecting democracy this fall.

Hear what UU the Vote teams across the country are doing—and discover concrete opportunities to plug into the work right away.

Join the Dogwood Faith Project to Combat Christian Nationalism, North Carolina Deep Canvass TrainingWednesday, September 9 @ 7–9 PM ET / 4-6 PM PT

Ready to have deeper conversations with voters? In 2025 the American Renewal Project launched the Nehemiah Project, a $48,000,000 campaign to advance Christian nationalism in North Carolina. In 2026, the Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of North Carolina’s UU the Vote campaign will begin a five-year effort to powerfully combat this threat. In partnership with other members of the Blueprint NC Faith Table, UU Justice NC will train & activate UUs to engage in deep canvassing & voter outreach in strategic areas of rural NC.

Join UU Justice North Carolina and our North Carolina partners for a deep phonebank canvass on September 10 and/or September 17. Complete this mandatory training to learn the deep-canvassing approach and prepare to join one or both voter-contact events.

3. Build Grassroots Community Power

Elections matter, but democracy is bigger than Election Day. Our communities need lasting relationships, skills, and infrastructure that allow us to organize together before, during, and after elections.

That’s why UU the Vote is hosting Solidarity Summits across the country—bringing together faith communities, grassroots organizations, and local leaders to deepen relationships, build practical organizing skills, and create networks of care and collective power.

This fall, join Solidarity Summits in AZ, CT, DC, IL, MA, MN, TN, VA and more!

ADD YOUR SOLIDARITY SUMMIT EVENT FOR NATIONAL PROMOTION

Get Counted: Become a Good Trouble Congregation

Let’s go! Make sure your UU the Vote work gets counted.

Good Trouble Congregations invites congregations to stretch their organizing, take bold action during the election season, and strengthen their long-term capacity for justice work.

Over the past four years, Good Trouble Congregations has helped communities grow from taking individual actions to building deeper, more sustained organizing programs. Democracy requires each of us—and each of our congregations—to do our part.

At our September 12 celebration, we’ll highlight some of the incredible work happening across the country.

Use the UU the Vote Report Form to tell us what your congregation has been doing and get your work included in our September 12 highlight reel.

GET COUNTED

There is a role for everyone in protecting democracy. Find yours, bring your community with you, and let’s get to work.In faith and solidarity,
Nicole

Don’t miss our Declarations of Democracy series!

The Gathering: Declarations of Democracy – Solidarity

Join us for the 3rd event of the series marking the 250th anniversary and examine the limits and possibilities of American democracy and our sacred call to shape a multiracial, interdependent democracy where everyone can thrive on September 14, 2026 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM ET. We will be joined by a discussion with Aisha Hauser and Rev. Jason Lydon about how solidarity is shaping our elections, democracy, and the next 250 years.