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By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged
OKLAHOMA CITY — I have vivid memories of voting in my first presidential election in 1988, when Republican George H.W. Bush defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis.
As a junior journalism major at Oklahoma Christian University, I reported on a variety of campaign stops that fall — including Oklahoma City rallies by Bush and Democratic vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen.
On the other hand, I recall little about my inaugural time casting any ballot two years earlier. That non-presidential election came in the middle of Ronald Reagan’s second term. The big news in 1986: Democrats regained control of the Senate and strengthened their majority in the House.
Alas, midterms tend not to leave the indelible impression of presidential years. But they, too, are consequential. That’ll no doubt be the case as Americans go to the polls Tuesday. Even Pope Leo XIV requested an absentee ballot. As the Vatican announced Friday, Leo became the first pontiff ever to vote in an American election.
Religion will, of course, play a role on Election Day, from mobilizing participation to seeking precinct integrity to influencing voter decisions.
Here are five faith-related questions to watch:
This column appears in the online magazine Religion Unplugged.
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