Our coalition partner, One America, has shared a critical update in mail-in voting, and FAN is joining them in this advocacy action to submit Public Comment by July 2^nd:

As recently reported by The Seattle Times, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is preparing plans to radically crack down on mail-in voting. In a proposed rule released on June 2, 2026, the USPS said it would only send ballots to voters who are on lists created and controlled by the federal government. It’s an alarming step toward implementing part of President Trump’s March 2026 sweeping executive order that attacks mail voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. It also represents a massive expansion of federal control over voting, without congressional authorization.

This rule would require states to send the USPS lists of all registered voters who request mail-in and absentee ballots. If the post office determines that any voter on the list isn’t eligible, USPS would refuse to accept and deliver the ballot. Additionally, if any state doesn’t send in its voting list, the post office could refuse to send its ballots.

Washington state was second in the country to allow all mail-in voting. This safe and secure vote-by-mail system was originally championed with bipartisan support and is popular with voters because of how it improves access to democracy. 

While there are already multiple lawsuits challenging the executive order (including those litigated by WA AG's office, Campaign Legal Center, ACLU, etc.), and a federal judge in Massachusetts judge has just invalidated much of President Trump's executive order, we must also be vocal in our opposition as the Trump administration attempts to restrict voting and federally interfere with state-run elections. 

The USPS is accepting comments on its rule through July 2, 2026 by 2pm (PST) via email to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with the subject line "Ballot Mail." Take 5 minutes to adapt the prompt below to send a short email message to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov in opposition to this rule change.

Be sure to label the subject line “Ballot Mail,” include your name and physical address, and once you have sent the email, click here so FAN can track this advocacy action. 

Dear USPS:  

My name is _______ and I'm writing to oppose the changes USPS is considering to how we vote by mail. Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and I believe that the government should be making voting more accessible for voters, not less. This rule change will impact me and millions of Americans who rely on mail-in voting as a safe and secure way to cast our ballots. Our constitution is clear that elections are run by state and local elected officials, not federal agencies. I urge you to NOT adopt this rule.  

Sincerely, ______________

Address: _______________

As we approach the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, Faith Action Network extols the religious liberty and vibrant pluralism that we have both inherited and struggled for. This religious liberty is central to democracy and our rights to self-determination. "Religious liberty is not an abstract ideal," writes Anisha Singh of the Legal Aid Justice Center. "[I]t is about whether people, especially those from minority faiths, can move through the world safely and with dignity...” It is about the wisdom and hope that come when people of all faiths and none shape the common good in these United States.

Yet, even as we celebrate, we recognize that this very liberty is threatened. Many, including officials in the White House and Congress, have attempted to paint the upcoming Semiquincentennial as an opportunity to return to America as a “Christian nation.” We see the rise of white Christian Nationalism--a political ideology that fuses American identity with a strict exclusionary interpretation of Christian teachings--in communities across our state and nation and within President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission.

Central to our Constitution, however, is the First Amendment, which affirms religious liberty, as well as the freedom not to adhere to any religion. Let us read it together:  

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. 

In his book Out of Many Faiths, Interfaith America leader Eboo Patel quotes President George Washington as he responds to the Jewish leader Moses Seixas about the meaning of this amendment: 

"All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily, the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, ... requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens." 

This religious liberty is crucial to both our spiritual growth and democracy. 

In a nation deeply shaped by Christian culture, this Amendment has been affirmed and clarified through many court cases brought by citizens who wanted to protect their rights and those of their neighbors. Rev. Dr. Corey Walker of Wake Forest College reminds us that, "Religious freedom, like American democracy, has never been a settled achievement. It has been and remains a site of struggle over which the very meaning of freedom has been contested and expanded."

We must continue this struggle, especially now. Maggie Siddiqi, Senior Advisor at Interfaith Alliance, offers three ways we can do this:

1. Embracing religious pluralism as a value, by seeking to create a society that truly includes people of all religious and nonreligious backgrounds. 
2. Recognizing that religious pluralism can only thrive through protecting religious liberty, as enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 
3. Acknowledging that true religious liberty is only achieved when all people are free to live outtheir consciences without fear for their safety or well-being.

FAN has heard from so many of our faith community members a growing dismay about this rise of white Christian nationalism and eroding democracy. We are committed now more than ever to acting in solidarity to protect religious liberty and pluralism for everyone. This 4^th of July, we encourage all of us to reflect on the role of religious diversity in our democracy.

We recommend the following resources for your reflection and discussion:

• PluribUS250 at Interfaith America has multiple articles exploring different faith perspectives on pluralism and democracy, including Maggie Siddiqi's article.

• Interfaith Messaging Guide: Faith and Democracy in the Face of Authoritarianism. 

• Religious Liberty for All: Celebrating This Founding Freedom at America 250: A new report featuring 20 prominent elected officials and faith leaders on what religious liberty means in their lives and for the nation. Developed by the Center for American Progress, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Interfaith Alliance, and the American Humanist Association.

• A film and discussion guide on excerpts on religion and religious liberty from Ken Burns' series The American Revolution.

• A collection of stories from Religion News on faith and American belonging.

Did you miss out on our recent clean energy webinars? Don’t worry! We have got all the resources from both webinars here for you when you are ready to explore them.

Our June 17th webinar featuring Lawyers for Good Government discussed technical legals details like which clean energy tax credits are still being accepted by the federal government and more. Here is more information:

• The full webinar recording here.
• The slide deck from L4GG here.
• Interested in learning more? Fill out this form to get directly connected with L4GG here.
• Get additional resources at the CETCAP Hub: here. 

Our May 31st webinar featuring community partners, Design for Peace and Englewood Christian Church, talked about the importance of knowing your context when shaping your outreach and missional work. Not every project makes sense for every faith community! Watch the conversation between our partners here.

Lastly, we need your help! FAN’s tagline is “a partnership for the common good,” and we want to know what our partners, you, think of this recent clean energy programming. Please take a couple minutes to fill out this brief survey. Your input will help us to continue developing meaningful and impactful programming."

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