As Election Day approaches, church members Lucky Hartunian and Janie Booth at Menifee’s Revival Christian Fellowship are leading a push for voter registration and ballot gathering. The practice, controversial in the past, is now being embraced by conservative voters, particularly evangelical Christians, as a valuable tool to increase voter turnout and elect candidates who align with their values. Figures like Charlie Kirk and Lara Trump are encouraging Christians and conservatives to collect ballots, with churches like Calvary Chapel Chino Hills leading the way in training congregants to participate.
Despite concerns about fraud, there has been no evidence of widespread issues related to mail voting. Conservatives are changing their stance on mail ballots and encouraging their use after Trump’s criticisms of the method. With the election likely to be decided by narrow margins, the practice of ballot gathering is gaining traction in competitive states. Churches are seen as natural choices for this initiative, with their congregations gathering regularly and providing a trusted environment for voters to get involved.
Critics of ballot gathering, such as Former Orange County Registrar Neal Kelley, believe it can help increase voting without major issues related to tampering. Progressive and Democratic groups also trust churches to engage in this practice, seeing it as a way to ensure more voices are heard in the democratic process. With the upcoming election expected to be closely contested, the involvement of churches in gathering ballots is seen as a crucial effort to engage voters and make a difference on the issues that matter to their communities.
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