Dear ,

This coming Monday, October 17, is the deadline for registering to vote ahead of time. Although with the new same-day voter registration law, people will be allowed to register and cast a provisional ballot on Election Day. Nonetheless, we still want to encourage people to register ahead of time and check their registration to avoid lines and reduce the last minute burden on registrars. Even if you have not moved since you last voted, due to redistricting there may be changes to your voting location or information so be sure to check.

If you want to register, check your registration status and information, or update your address, you can do so by visiting: tinyurl.com/vicpp-election

In the bulletin insert section of this week's newsletter, there is a simple paragraph you can cut and paste for your congregation’s bulletin or newsletter. It will need to be shared with people this weekend, so they can register before Monday.

There are still ways to help between now and the election, November 8.

You can: 

• Text your friends and family using Impactive app. VICPP offers weekly sessions on how to use this app on Thursdays at 6 pm. Register for tomorrow night (or another upcoming Thursday) by CLICKING HERE. 
  
  
• Use technology to ensure your congregation (or organization) is 100 percent voting. Using publicly available data, VICPP can work with you to provide you information on who is and is not registered, who is registered but is an infrequent voter, and what legislative districts people are in. If you are interested in this, please email: Robert@virginiainterfaithcenter.org 
  
  
• Plan a Celebrate Voting event for the weekend before the election (which falls on November 4-6). Work with your worship planning team to have special activities such as a sermon on civic engagement, prayers, and information distributed about how/where to vote and the new same-day registration opportunity.

I am not the most tech savvy person around (as my sons will assure you), but I believe in using technology as much as possible to make us more effective. Most congregations could use technology more to encourage their members and those in surrounding areas to register if they would acquire and use voter data to focus their efforts. We are encouraging congregations to help us test and use the technology this year, so we can promote it more widely next year (when every seat in the General Assembly is up for reelection). Might you try this?

Voting is a key part of advocacy. So, too, is meeting with legislators. Below, in this newsletter is information about upcoming chapter meetings that will focus on arranging meetings with legislators. Please join one of the upcoming chapter meetings.  

Sincerely,

Kim Bobo
Executive Director 

VICPP and the PUSH maternal health campaign invites you to join us in the observance of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month by holding a prayer vigil in support of the International Wave of Light, observed on Saturday, October 15. You can gather a few members of your congregation or campus, ministry or group, or family or neighborhood to offer prayers on Saturday, October 15 or Sunday, October 16 on the grounds of your house of worship, school, or neighborhood or outside your office or home. Invite friends, loved ones, advocates, and allies to illuminate your remembrance of babies gone too soon, and in support of their families.

For details on how to participate in the Wave of Light, click on the button below for a one-page action guide. Don’t forget to take pictures of your gathering or social media post and send to VICPP Health Equity Program Manager Dora Muhammad at dora@virginiainterfaithcenter.org so we may acknowledge your participation and support!

The national Election Protection program is managed in our state by the Virginia Civic Engagement Table (VCET). Volunteer roles for the General Election in November are now available, each with a required training session. The training session is designed to give you tools and resources you will need, prepare you for what to expect, and run through a number of practice scenarios. Click on the buttons below to register for the training(s) you want. For more information, please contact Nick Gothard at: nick@engageva.org

• Henrico & Greater Richmond Metro, Monday, October 17, 6 p.m.
  
• Greater Prince William, Wednesday, October 19, 12 p.m.
• Hampton Roads, Monday, October 24, 6 p.m.
• James River, Wednesday, October 26, 12 p.m.
• New River Valley, Tuesday, November 1, 12 p.m.
   
  Click the button below to check out our upcoming events list on our website for details and links to RSVP or register!

For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, please click the button below to check out the VICPP Events webpage.  

As faithful citizens, we are called to participate in our democracy! Monday, October 17 is the last day for voter registration in Virginia. Elections this November 8 are key to many issues at the national level. If you want to register, check your registration status, or update your address, you can do so at this link: tinyurl.com/vicpp-election  

Doula services now covered under Virginia Medicaid

Virginia Mercury, Oct.10, 2022

By Meghan McIntyre