September 27, 2012

“My Faith. My Vote. My Future.” is the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s 2012 election campaign to promote and actively engage American Muslims in the upcoming elections. Understanding the issues and learning about the candidates are crucial as you decide how to vote.

Our 2012 Election Community Toolkit will help you understand the issues and get practical ideas about how you can get yourself and your community more involved. Through the resources provided in this kit, it is our hope you will get more involved in local, state and national campaigns, create conversations on issues important to your community, and mobilize your family and friends to vote.

For many American Muslims, faith plays an integral role in the decisions they make as voters, regardless of their party affiliation. So too have both presidential candidates indicated that their strong religious beliefs play a part of their decision-making process. The focus of MPAC’s election campaign is to provide a faith-based approached to the top issues American Muslims feel are important during this election season. MPAC launched a survey in January 2012 to identify and rate the national issues that are important to you.

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is known for drawing a fine line between his faith and his political views; however his religious affiliation will affect the way in which some people view him and whether or not they choose to vote for him. President Barack Obama is a devout Christian who has faced numerous questions about the nature and influence of his faith in his decision-making. In February 2009, Obama told an audience at the annual National Prayer Breakfast that “his policy choices are often guided by his Christian faith.” Both candidates have strong religious backgrounds, which influence the way they approach certain issues and make policy.

Through “My Faith, My Vote, My Future,” we aim to work with you to promote faith as a positive manner in this election season which inspires and mobilizes all of us to not only overcome discrimination and prejudice but build a better future for all Americans.