In an election season filled with polarization, misinformation, and tension, we need trusted messengers. Clergy and vowed religious often play this role in communities and are invited to act as poll chaplains at their local polling locations. Poll chaplains provide spiritual care, a peaceful presence, a sense of security, and a calming influence at the polling place. Faith leaders employ their pastoral and interpersonal skills with those present at the polls while monitoring the polls for any signs of voter intimidation or suppression. Through the Wisconsin Council of Churches’ partnership with the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign (WIVEC), poll chaplains will be trained in the Wisconsin voting context, ICE watch, and logistics. We will coordinate with local election monitoring programs and other partners to assign poll chaplains and assistants to needed locations, provide support on election day, and communicate with election clerks.

Register to receive the links to complete required training to be a poll chaplain or poll chaplain assistant. Partnering with All Voting is Local and the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign, the Wisconsin Council of Churches will equip you to understand the Wisconsin context of elections and your role as a poll chaplain.

NEW! For the 2026 November election, we are inviting volunteers who are not ordained clergy to serve as poll chaplain assistants and join our poll chaplains across the state.

A 90 minute live training will be offered on October 6th at 10:00am and October 8th at 6:00pm. This will be the same training so you only need to choose one date. The training will be recorded if you are unable to make the live event.

This link registers you for the training and to be a poll chaplain. If you have already signed up, you do not need to fill out the form again.