<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Ndp77_0wFgeYKW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Ndp77_0wFgeYKW00" width="1024" height="683" ></figure><figure><figcaption>Rev. Alyn Waller of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church rallies fellow bikers for a "Black Bikers Vote" procession, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) </figcaption></figure> It makes sense that all eyes are on Pennsylvania right now. After all, in the past three election cycles, the results of the presidential race have been razor thin in the Keystone State, with its winner going on to take the White House. Not to mention, the state was also the site of one of the most consequential battles of the Civil War, which gave us one of the most famous speeches in the world, President Lincoln’s <a href="https://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm" rel="nofollow"> Gettysburg Address </a> . Today, both presidential candidates are spending scores of money and time there — an <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/news/election-2024/2024/10/05/harris-trump-casey-mccormick-pennsylvania-ad-spending/stories/202410060108" rel="nofollow"> astonishing $1 billion in ad buys </a> alone. Understanding the importance and possibility of tension, especially in battleground and swing states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and more, <a href="https://www.turnoutsunday.com/" rel="nofollow"> Faiths United to Save Democracy </a> , “a nonpartisan, multi-racial, multi-faith, and multi-generation” organization is mobilizing poll chaplains ahead of Nov. 5. “It is rooted in the belief that everyone is made in the image of God and deserves the freedom to vote,” the group says of its campaign. “The FUSD campaign exists to overcome the recent assault on democracy, making it more difficult for voters who are low-income, black and brown, elderly, students, and disabled to exercise their sacred right to vote.” Reckon caught up with the Rev. Dr. Alyn Walller, who pastors one of the largest African American congregations in Philadelphia and has worked as a poll chaplain since Obama’s first campaign in 2008, about what people can expect from poll chaplains on Election Day. Reckon: How did you become a poll chaplain, and what led you to this work? Dr. Alyn Walller: Dr. Barbara Skinner, who helped organize Faiths United to Save Democracy, told me about the program. It made sense to me that we need peacekeepers and people of goodwill at the polls — not representing Democrats or Republicans, but democracy — encouraging people while they’re in line, helping those working at the polls, and being reminders of the importance of voting, regardless of how you vote. That aligns with my personal theology. As a pastor, I’m not here to tell people how to vote, but to encourage them to vote and normalize participation in the democratic process. I first got involved back during Barack Obama’s first presidential election in 2008. Have things changed over time? If so, in what ways? Yes, the country has become more polarized. This started with Barack Obama becoming the first Black president. That led a segment of the country to react strongly, and it’s only worsened, especially with the divisive rhetoric from President Trump. Now, I think we’re seeing divisions we haven’t seen since the Civil War. It’s interesting that you use the term “peacekeepers.” Can you elaborate on that? Especially given concerns about potential tensions or even violence at polling places, is that what you mean by “peacekeepers”? Yes, that would be the extreme of it. But also because there’s such great turnout, you have long lines. People wherever there are long lines, and wherever there is the potential for confusion, there’s also the potential for disruption. So you need somebody there, not on either side, but just there to be supportive of the process. As a poll chaplain, we talk to people while they’re in line, help people with the basics of understanding what they can and cannot do. So that’s what we mean by keeping the peace. That could also include being ready with our phones to call the authorities if someone is being unruly, but we also learn deescalation techniques so that we can just be there as agents of good and peace. Do you see the role of poll chaplains as countering potential intimidation by certain groups, like poll watchers? Absolutely. For example, I’m in Pennsylvania, in a significant city in a swing state.. My area abuts the county, so I know that there may be some persons who would want to come around and quote-un-quote exercise their right to bear arms, but it’s clearly an intimidation factor and so we would be there to help dissuade them, to call authorities if necessary, but also to encourage others to not be afraid of them. What’s a typical Election Day for you? Do you work at the polls as soon as they open? Yes, we’re there when the polls open. We encourage chaplains to be there all day, but for those who can’t, we ask them to sign up for different hours, like before work, during lunch, or after work. Generally, our role has been to support people in line, keep their spirits up, and help them stay patient. About how many poll chaplains do you work with in Philadelphia or the region? There are hundreds. I’m expecting about 110 chaplains just in the northwest Philadelphia area. Across Pennsylvania, in places like Erie, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, the number is in the hundreds, and with Faith United to Save Democracy, we’re likely moving toward the thousands nationwide. What qualities make a good or effective poll chaplain, especially for someone new to the role? Someone who loves democracy, loves people, and loves peace. We come from a religious perspective, so we look for people who believe in God and want the best for the democratic process and for voters. Could you tell me a bit about yourself? Are you from Philadelphia? I’ve been the pastor of <a href="https://enontab.org/" rel="nofollow"> Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church </a> for 30 years, and I’ve been in Philadelphia since 1994. I pastor the largest African American congregation in Philadelphia. I’m part of the Black prophetic tradition, and I believe deeply in democracy and in America. Right now, we’re fighting for the soul of this country, and the Black church has always been part of that fight, especially in preserving democracy. Is there a role for poll chaplains after the election? Yes, encouraging people to stay engaged in the democratic process. In Philadelphia, there’s an election every six months, so we’re always reminding people to exercise their voting rights. But on Election Day, the focus is on being agents of peace and goodwill at the polls. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

In Pennsylvania and other battlegrounds, an army of poll chaplains is mobilizing

Understanding the importance and possibility of tension, especially in battleground and swing states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and more, Faiths United to Save Democracy, \"a nonpartisan, multi-racial, multi-faith, and multi-generation\" organization is mobilizing poll chaplains ahead of Nov. 5.

Understanding the importance and possibility of tension, especially in battleground and swing states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and more, Faiths United to Save Democracy, "a nonpartisan, multi-racial, multi-faith, and multi-generation" organization is mobilizing poll chaplains ahead of Nov. 5.