Levels of religious freedom are declining across the United States, particularly in the seven swing states central to the upcoming 5th November presidential election, according to the 2024 Faith and Freedom Index.

The index encourages Americans to consider the potential impact of state laws on religious freedom, especially given the uncertain stance of the next administration toward these issues.

It evaluates states based on “religious freedom” - whether a state’s laws support or restrict faith-based nonprofits, and “regulatory freedom”- how conducive a state’s regulatory environment is for nonprofit operations.

According to the Napa Legal Institute, many states over-regulate and even hinder faith-based organisations, threatening their ability to operate freely. In the seven critical swing states, none scored above 60 per cent for religious freedom.

Georgia had the highest score at 55 per cent, followed by North Carolina at 50 per cent, and Pennsylvania, a state with significant electoral importance, at 44 per cent.

Lower scores included Arizona (37 per cent), Wisconsin (33 per cent), Nevada (29 per cent), and Michigan at 22 per cent, which also drew criticism for recent actions by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

In contrast, Alabama and Indiana scored highest in the Index, with strong protections and streamlined regulations for nonprofits.

Some states, such as Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah, have improved their rankings since the 2023 Index launch by enacting Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, strengthening protections for religious organisations.

Mary Margaret Beecher, Vice President and Executive Director of Napa Legal, emphasised the importance of the Faith and Freedom Index as a resource for promoting religious freedom across states, especially in this uncertain election year.

She noted that states like Alabama and Texas are setting a strong example, but called for other states to follow suit, ensuring that religious freedoms are protected nationwide.