Resolves of the Executive Council

Resolved, That the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 13-15, 2020, reaffirms its recognition that the process of voting and political participation is an act of Christian stewardship, and that such processes must be fair, secure, and just; and be it further

Resolved, That given the reality of foreign interference and widespread misinformation campaigns in elections in the U.S. and around the globe, the Executive Council recognizes the need for policy and appropriate safeguards to reduce content that is false and designed to cause harm (also known as disinformation); and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council urges individual Episcopalians, congregations and dioceses in all provinces of The Episcopal Church to be vigilant as they engage with information, especially information shared through online platforms, and encourages fact-checking and source identification so as not to spread disinformation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council directs the Office of Government Relations to advocate for policy to ensure free and fair elections and to promote government accountability in providing this necessary service, including:

• Closing loopholes in current laws that allow for interference in elections
• Developing policies that prohibit interference in ballot initiatives
• Reducing the risk of electronic voting machines being hacked or other means of interference or manipulation
• Reducing the risk of voter personal information data breaches
• Requiring paper back-up copies of cast ballots
• Reducing the spread of content that is false and designed to cause harm