Church-state interaction you can get behind: The Church of Universal Suffrage

[muriel_volestrangler]

A New Church in Tennessee Exists Purely to Help Residents Vote Early

Unlike some states that are sending out absentee ballots to all registered voters in light of the pandemic, Tennessee officials require residents to give a reason if they want an absentee ballot. Maybe they’re older, or have a disability, or decided it’s “impossible or unreasonable” to vote in person due to COVID. But if you’re someone who just wants to vote early, that doesn’t work.
...
State law says one reason you may obtain an absentee ballot is if “You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.”

So if there was a religion that simply declared Election Day — for any election — a holiday, it would serve as a legitimate reason to request a ballot no matter who you are…

Introducing: The Church of Universal Suffrage, an officially registered non-profit religious organization that exists purely to circumvent Republican voter suppression in Tennessee.
...
https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/06/09/a-new-church-in-tennessee-exists-purely-to-help-residents-vote-early/

The Church of Universal Suffrage is officially registered with the State of Tennessee as a non-profit religious institution. We hold regular, weekly Sunday Service where we meditate on the nature of voter suppression and corruption. We also hold every voting day in the United States to be an official holiday reserved for meditation on the nature of voter suppression and in celebration of our inalienable right to vote, endowed to us by our Creator, along with: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Amen.

https://www.universalsuffragechurch.org/about

All in-person meetings have been cancelled because of Covid-19, of course, because this is sensible. And they tell you to give money to a charity, not them. The founder is a state employee, so he's got some guts to do this - I hope he doesn't get any trouble for it.

[littlemissmartypants]

1. I love this person. Turning an obstacle into an opportunity, genius! ❤ nt

[bobbieinok]

2. Saw this earlier at friendlyatheist. What a fabulous idea!