A candidate forum can help people of faith become informed voters, introduce candidates to the concerns of their communities, and build relationships with future public officials. It also requires careful planning and a firm commitment to nonpartisanship.

Churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations may conduct nonpartisan voter education, including candidate forums. They may not endorse or oppose candidates for public office. LEAN encourages faithful civic participation that is rooted in our baptismal call to seek the common good while treating every candidate and political party fairly.

IRS guidance for churches
ELCA civic engagement resources

Is a forum a good idea?

A forum can be a meaningful ministry when a congregation or coalition can:

• Attract a broad community audience;
• Provide a neutral moderator and timekeeper;
• Invite every qualified candidate for the same office;
• Apply the same rules, deadlines, questions, and speaking time to each candidate; and
• Plan and promote the event well in advance.

A forum may not be advisable if only one candidate is likely to participate, if the event is intended to promote or challenge a particular candidate, or if there is not enough time to organize it fairly.

In those cases, consider partnering with the League of Women Voters, other congregations, neighborhood groups, or community organizations. A congregation may also host a nonpartisan issue-education program without candidates.

Begin with one contested race

For a first forum, choose one contested race that directly serves the congregation’s community. This could include:

• Nevada Assembly or State Senate;
• City council or mayor;
• County commission;
• School board;
• Board of regents;
• County offices such as sheriff, district attorney, clerk, assessor, or treasurer; or
• A congressional race.

Local candidates are often easier to schedule, and the conversation can focus on decisions that directly affect neighbors. A larger statewide or congressional forum may work best when organized by a coalition of congregations and community partners.

Invite all qualified candidates for the same office:

• At the same time and in the same manner;
• Under identical rules and deadlines;
• Without regard to political party or viewpoint; and
• With the same access to questions, format details, and logistical information.

Do not invite only the candidates viewed as most viable or most aligned with the sponsoring organization’s concerns.

Choose a broad conversation

For a congregation’s first forum, LEAN recommends covering several public concerns rather than centering the event on only one issue.

A broad forum helps voters understand how candidates approach the responsibilities of the office. It also helps protect the event’s nonpartisan character. Questions should be prepared independently and should give every candidate an equal opportunity to respond.

Faith may explain why a congregation cares about an issue, but questions should focus on a candidate’s public responsibilities—not their personal religious beliefs.

Select four to six themes that fit the office, then choose six to eight questions total.

Nevada questions to consider

Hunger and economic security

• Nevada families continue to face rising food, housing, and utility costs. What policies would you support to reduce hunger and improve long-term economic stability?
• What role should state and federal government play in protecting access to SNAP, school meals, and other nutrition programs?
• How would you support workers and families whose wages do not keep pace with the cost of living?

Housing and homelessness

• What policies would you support to increase the supply of safe, affordable housing in Nevada?
• How should communities respond to unsheltered homelessness without simply moving people from one location to another?
• What should government do to improve tenant protections, prevent evictions, and support seniors and families facing housing instability?

Health care

• What would you do to protect and improve access to Medicaid, behavioral-health care, maternal health care, and rural health services?
• How should Nevada address shortages in health-care professionals, especially in rural and underserved communities?
• What responsibility does government have to ensure families can afford health care and prescription medications?

Education and children

• What investments would you support to strengthen Nevada’s public schools, educators, and students?
• How should Nevada ensure transparency and accountability for all public education dollars?
• What would you do to address chronic absenteeism, literacy gaps, student mental health, and unequal educational opportunity?

Creation care, water, and energy

• What responsibility does government have to protect Nevadans from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and other climate-related risks?
• How should Nevada balance water conservation, housing, agriculture, mining, and economic growth?
• What policies would you support to make energy more affordable and reliable while protecting communities and creation?
• How should Nevada address the energy, water, and tax impacts of large data centers and other major developments?

Democracy and civic life

• What steps would you take to strengthen public confidence in Nevada elections while protecting access for every eligible voter?
• Will you accept certified election results and oppose threats or violence against election workers and public officials?
• How would you work with colleagues and constituents whose political views differ from your own?

Immigration and community belonging

• What would a secure, orderly, and humane immigration system look like?
• How should public officials protect due process, family unity, and the safety of children and families?
• What role should state and local government play in ensuring that all Nevada communities can live, work, learn, and worship safely?

Should candidates receive questions in advance?

Give every campaign the topics, format, rules, and time limits in advance. LEAN recommends sharing the principal questions with all participating candidates at the same time, about five to seven days before the forum.

Advance questions encourage thoughtful answers and can make busy candidates more willing to participate. The goal is voter education, not surprise.

Moderators may ask neutral follow-up questions. Audience questions should be submitted in writing and screened by a politically diverse committee for relevance, clarity, duplication, and impartiality. Do not give one campaign additional preparation, private coaching, or earlier access to information.

Keep the format simple

A 60- to 75-minute forum might include:

• Five minutes for welcome, rules, and a nonpartisan disclaimer;
• One-minute opening statements;
• About 40 minutes of prepared questions;
• Ten to fifteen minutes of screened audience questions;
• One-minute closing statements; and
• A reminder about voter registration, early voting, mail ballots, and Election Day.

Rotate who answers first. Enforce identical time limits. Use a visible timekeeper. Ask the audience to withhold applause, and do not allow campaign fundraising during the event.

If campaigns may display literature, provide the same amount of space in a designated area for every candidate. If the event is recorded, notify candidates in advance and publish the full program rather than selected clips.

Plan for a candidate’s absence

Adopt an “empty-chair” policy before invitations are sent and share it with every campaign.

If only one candidate agrees to participate, the safest practice is to cancel that race’s forum rather than give one campaign exclusive exposure. If a candidate withdraws at the last minute, follow the policy that was announced to every campaign consistently.

Invite the whole community

Candidate forums should generally be open to the public. A broad and diverse audience strengthens the event’s value to voters and candidates alike.

Invite nearby congregations, interfaith partners, neighborhood associations, schools, food pantries, nonprofits, and community ministries. Promote the event through partner email lists, community calendars, libraries, local news outlets, and appropriate social-media groups.

Ask participating campaigns to share the same neutral announcement. Promotional materials should name every invited candidate and include this disclaimer:

This is a nonpartisan voter-education event. The sponsoring organizations do not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties.

Begin planning now

Nevada’s general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Congregations planning a forum should confirm current registration, mail-ballot, and early-voting information through the Nevada Secretary of State.

Allow:

• Six to eight weeks to organize and invite candidates;
• Three to four weeks for public promotion;
• Two weeks to finalize technology, accessibility, security, and volunteer roles;
• Five to seven days to provide questions to candidates; and
• Seven to ten days for the strongest promotional push.

Faithful participation without partisanship

A candidate forum is not an endorsement meeting or an effort to determine which candidate is “the Christian choice.” It is a ministry of public conversation.

Congregations can create a space where candidates are treated fairly, neighbors are heard, difficult questions are asked respectfully, and voters receive useful information. At a time of deep division, honest and hospitable conversation can itself be an expression of Christian public witness.

If your congregation is not ready to host a forum this year, attend one hosted by another community organization, watch a candidate debate, read candidates’ public statements, and make a voting plan. Local races matter deeply because local decisions shape our schools, neighborhoods, housing, public safety, health, and shared life.