Souls to the Polls Oct. 27, 2024 VICPP

Richmond, VA - The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) “Interfaith Souls to the Polls” initiative aims to increase early voter turnout in Richmond. On Sunday, October 27, 2024, the event brought together congregations for a multi-vehicle caravan to three early voting sites, featuring community programming with refreshments, free lunch, entertainment, and messages from local leaders.
This initiative aims to counter the recent decline in early voter participation-down 20% in 2023-and to ensure a smoother Election Day by encouraging more people to vote early. Congregations are encouraged to include voting messages in their services, emphasizing civic engagement as an essential part of their faith practice.
This program also focuses on racial equity by targeting outreach to Black congregations, addressing historical barriers to voting. “Interfaith Souls to the Polls is a way to harness the faith community’s influential presence as the catalyst for civic engagement,” said Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Co-Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. “It’s an opportunity to harness the collective power of the community by bringing together congregations to participate in early voting as a culminating part of their Sunday morning worship experience.”