Election 2020 Resources for Mercy Schools

We know in our Mercy secondary schools, educating students on the Critical Concerns goes hand-in-hand with educating them on their potential to make an impact on these issues through their words, their actions and, when eligible, their votes.

Reflective Voting Guides

• From Sisters of Mercy: Prayer Calendar for the 2020 Election
• A Prayer for the Election by James Martin, SJ
• Webinar: Voting and Catholicism from Creighton University to be held October 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
• From Faith in Public Life: Democracy Values and the 2020 Election – A Reflection Guide for Faith Communities
• From Ignatian Solidarity Network: Ignatian Examen for Civic Life
• From LCWR: Towards a More Perfect Union: 2020 Election Reflections and A Reflective Voting Guide – Creating Communion at the Intersection of Racism, Migration and Climate Crisis
• From NETWORK: Voting and Democracy
• From USCCB: Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Encouraging Nonviolent Dialogue and Actions around Controversial Issues

• From Catholic Common Ground Initiative: Helpful Articles
• From Conference of Major Superiors of Men: Nonviolent Communication on Controversial Issues
• From Franciscan Action Network: A Call to Conscience: Catholic Teaching and Civil Disobedience

Nonpartisan Voter Information Website

• Vote.org
• League of Women Voters and vote411.org 
• Our First Vote – created by students, for students
• Rock the Vote
• From Accredited Schools Online: Navigating the Election Process for Students and First-Time Voters

Get Involved

• Video Playlist: Get Out the Vote with Mercy!
• #VoteWithMercy Digital Toolkit from the Sisters of Mercy. Schools are welcome to use the graphics, gifs and messaging in classrooms, newsletters, alumni outreach, social media, etc.
• Op-ed writing guide for first-time voters from the Sisters of Mercy. This tool is great for classroom use or for sharing with your school’s alumni/alumnae community.
• From What Kids Can Do: List of National Youth Vote Organizations

Other Helpful Resources

• Annenberg Public Policy Center – includes links to FactCheck.org and classroom resources for teaching the Constitution
• Democracy Class – free, nonpartisan curriculum that educates high school students about the importance and history of voting and pre-registers and registers them to vote.
• From Education Week: How Schools Can Be More Effective at Growing Young Voters
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• From Teaching Tolerance: Future Voters Project