WASHINGTON (AP) More than 1,000 clergy members, religious scholars and other faith-based advocates have signed onto a unique statement that supports a comprehensive path to a free and fair election and urges leaders to heed the verdict of legitimate election results regardless of who wins in November.

Signatories of the statement, shared in advance with The Associated Press, include senior officials at the National Association of Evangelicals and prominent progressive pastor the Rev. William Barber, as well as two past faith advisers to former President George W. Bush. The statements wide swath of endorsements illustrates the extent to which the unprecedented nature of a mid-pandemic election has pushed organized religion to showcase its civic power.

After listing four basic principles, including the importance of leaders sharing timely, accurate information about the election results rather than misinformation, the statement goes on to state that those ideas are central to a functioning and healthy republic and they are supported by the vast majority of Americans, yet they are being challenged in unprecedented ways in the 2020 election.

America is only as strong as its peoples commitment to our democracy and the freedoms and rights it ensures, the joint statement adds.