Before you start
- Check your church's insurance. Ask your insurer whether volunteer drivers are covered when using church vans or personal vehicles for church activities.
- Follow your church's safety policy for transporting vulnerable adults, such as background checks and not having one driver alone with a rider when your policy requires two adults.
- Check your state's rules. A few states limit who can help voters, for example in returning mail ballots or assisting inside the polling place. Drivers should drive, not handle ballots.
- Stay nonpartisan. Offer rides to anyone who asks, regardless of how they plan to vote. No campaign materials, signs, or conversation about who to vote for in the vehicle.
Recruit drivers
- Ask for volunteers in announcements and at your Voter Sunday table.
- Collect each driver's name, phone, vehicle (seats, wheelchair accessibility), and available days and times.
- Confirm each driver has a valid license and insurance.
- Pair new drivers with experienced ones on busy days.
Sign up riders
- Keep a sign-up sheet at church and a phone number people can call or text.
- Record name, address, phone, mobility needs, and preferred day. Early voting days are usually less crowded than Election Day.
- Help each rider confirm their polling place or early voting site, and what ID to bring, at CanIVote.org ↗.
- Keep riders' personal information private, and dispose of it after the election.
Schedule
- Offer rides on a few early voting days, plus Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.
- Assign each rider a driver and a pickup window, and confirm by phone the day before.
- Plan for lines. Drivers should be ready to wait, or come back.
- Name one coordinator on each day to handle changes and no-shows.
On the day
- Drivers bring water, a phone charger, and the coordinator's number.
- Help riders to the door if needed, but only go inside the polling place if the rider asks and state rules allow it.
- If a rider is in line when polls close, they should stay in line.
- Get everyone home safely, and thank your drivers!
Church toolkit
Voter Sunday kitAnnouncement script, table setup, timeline
Printable handoutHalf-sheet with QR code for your sign-up table
What churches can and can't doThe IRS rules for 501(c)(3) churches, in plain English
Rides to the pollsOrganizer checklist for church drivers
This checklist is general guidance, not legal advice. Follow your church's policies and your state's election laws.