(RNS) — With summer in full swing, our attention, in an ideal world, would be divided between planning vacations and wrangling children, with the coming election a far-off problem for the fall. Sadly, the state of our politics isn’t allowing us that luxury. As citizens we often feel as if we have to choose between the high anxiety of engagement or the cynicism of disconnect.

But there is a group of people who have chosen a hopeful and productive third way. Election officials across the country are everyday people like you and me who live in the communities that they serve. Right now, they are ramping up to ensure that our elections are free and fair.

This year they need our help to make that happen. Our nation needs poll workers, and as two people of faith from different traditions living in different parts of the country, we believe that communities of faith should lead the way. Aug. 1, National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, offers an easy opportunity for us to step up to do our part.

What are poll workers? 

Our elections rely on a network of 1 million people who sign up to work at the polls during early voting and on Election Day. They conduct tasks such as checking in voters, providing assistance, ensuring security protocols are followed and in some cases tabulating the ballots. These individuals are well-trained, and almost all of them are paid for their service, because, simply put, our elections cannot run without them. 

This year many communities are facing a shortage of poll workers. A recent survey found that 43% of election officials are worried about recruiting enough poll workers in the 2024 election. If there are not enough individuals serving as poll workers, lines will be longer and processing of ballots will take more time, which bad actors can use as an excuse to sow distrust. 

Who better than people of faith to step up to meet this challenge? Groups from our own traditions, LDS Charities and Catholic Charities, are often among the first organizations to respond when an earthquake or tornado strikes. Our sisters and brothers from many other denominations and faiths work alongside them, providing food, water, shelter and other basic needs. 

This year, it is our democracy that requires an emergency response. Religious communities can and should be the first to step forward. Churches and other faith-based organizations are key non-partisan organizers in cities and towns across America, and they should take up the task of ensuring that we experience free and fair elections. Values central to our faith traditions such as hospitality and service particularly equip us to ensure a positive, smooth experience at the polls. 

Along with helping to avoid complications on Election Day, there are positive reasons to engage. Participation as poll workers allows us to serve our neighbors, regardless of whether their political beliefs align with our own. Through this service we can affirm our mutual commitment to a peaceful and pluralistic society. As our neighbors cast their ballots, we can pause to recognize God’s own image in each voter and make connections across differences.

Our elections are not run from Washington or by national elites. They are run by committed individuals in 3,000 counties and 117,000 polling locations across the country. There are hundreds of thousands of houses of worship and religious nonprofits across the country, and the only barrier to people of faith stepping forward and fully staffing these polling locations is our own willingness to get the job done. They have chosen to express faith in our collective future by acting on our behalf.

By working together with our fellow citizens we can join them in their expression of faith, and together can stave off a crisis by stepping forward to meet this significant need.

(Jennifer Walker Thomas is the co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Chris Crawford is a policy strategist for free and fair elections at Protect Democracy and a practicing Catholic. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)