Do you feel like you can't vote for anyone?

Michie · Jun 13, 2024

It's so easy to imagine, sadly. Picture the scene: polling day comes round. You feel disillusioned with the voting options put in front of you. Your eyes scan the different candidates; none of them stand out at you, whether for reasons of principle, or party allegiance, or even the character of the candidates on your ballot paper. You know that you ought to vote; you even want to vote, to exercise your democratic right. But the options are just so bad.

We do not expect to agree with everything that a party stands for; no candidate will exactly replicate the values which we hold. But sometimes the differences just feel insurmountable.

Maybe you're a traditional Conservative voter, but you are so frustrated with how they've performed while in office that you don't feel like can support them anymore, and you're worried about what a Labour government might do. Or maybe you're a Labour supporter when it comes to the economy and to inequality, but you're afraid that electing them will unleash a storm of liberalisation when it comes to some of the social issues that matter most to you.

Or maybe – and we saw this with some Labour supporters in the Rochdale by-election earlier in the year, which resulted in the victory of George Galloway – even if your party has a candidate, you do not feel like you can support them to be your representative, due to things they have said, or beliefs which they hold.

What ought we to do as Christians in such circumstances? Are there right and wrong courses of action?

Christians will take different views in response to these questions, but here are three possible routes we might take if we're struggling to work out who we might vote for.

1. Vote for the least bad option

Continued below.

Do you feel like you can\'t vote for anyone?

We do not expect to agree with everything that a party stands for; no candidate will exactly replicate the values which we hold. But sometimes the differences just feel insurmountable.

christiantoday.com

AlexB23 · Jun 13, 2024

Michie said:
It's so easy to imagine, sadly. Picture the scene: polling day comes round. You feel disillusioned with the voting options put in front of you. Your eyes scan the different candidates; none of them stand out at you, whether for reasons of principle, or party allegiance, or even the character of the candidates on your ballot paper. You know that you ought to vote; you even want to vote, to exercise your democratic right. But the options are just so bad.

We do not expect to agree with everything that a party stands for; no candidate will exactly replicate the values which we hold. But sometimes the differences just feel insurmountable.

Maybe you're a traditional Conservative voter, but you are so frustrated with how they've performed while in office that you don't feel like can support them anymore, and you're worried about what a Labour government might do. Or maybe you're a Labour supporter when it comes to the economy and to inequality, but you're afraid that electing them will unleash a storm of liberalisation when it comes to some of the social issues that matter most to you.

Or maybe – and we saw this with some Labour supporters in the Rochdale by-election earlier in the year, which resulted in the victory of George Galloway – even if your party has a candidate, you do not feel like you can support them to be your representative, due to things they have said, or beliefs which they hold.

What ought we to do as Christians in such circumstances? Are there right and wrong courses of action?

Christians will take different views in response to these questions, but here are three possible routes we might take if we're struggling to work out who we might vote for.

1. Vote for the least bad option

Continued below.

Do you feel like you can\'t vote for anyone?

We do not expect to agree with everything that a party stands for; no candidate will exactly replicate the values which we hold. But sometimes the differences just feel insurmountable.

christiantoday.com

Yep, I feel that. Biden is a Cafeteria Christian (2 Timothy 4:3), while Trump is the man from Psalm 10:2-7. I might abstain from voting this year, or vote 3rd party.

Dale · Jun 13, 2024

Yes, I do feel that I cannot vote for anyone. I have always made a point of voting. I have a dozen "I Voted" stickers stuck on a wall. Trump had his chance and Biden has had his chance. Neither delivered what we need and both will be in worse condition for a second term. In this case, looking at third or fourth parties doesn't help. They have nothing to offer, either.

chevyontheriver · Jun 13, 2024

Dale said:
In this case, looking at third or fourth parties doesn't help. They have nothing to offer, either.

There are many third parties on most ballots. Saying they all have 'nothing to offer' is a bit too simplistic. Sure you have the Communists and the Socialists and the Legal Marijuana parties. But check out the rest.

Fantine · Jun 13, 2024

Isn't rendering to Caesar making the most prudent decisions to serve the common good?
That is what I strive to do.

chevyontheriver · Jun 13, 2024

Michie said:
It's so easy to imagine, sadly. Picture the scene: polling day comes round. You feel disillusioned with the voting options put in front of you. Your eyes scan the different candidates; none of them stand out at you, whether for reasons of principle, or party allegiance, or even the character of the candidates on your ballot paper. You know that you ought to vote; you even want to vote, to exercise your democratic right. But the options are just so bad.

We do not expect to agree with everything that a party stands for; no candidate will exactly replicate the values which we hold. But sometimes the differences just feel insurmountable.

Maybe you're a traditional Conservative voter, but you are so frustrated with how they've performed while in office that you don't feel like can support them anymore, and you're worried about what a Labour government might do. Or maybe you're a Labour supporter when it comes to the economy and to inequality, but you're afraid that electing them will unleash a storm of liberalisation when it comes to some of the social issues that matter most to you.

Or maybe – and we saw this with some Labour supporters in the Rochdale by-election earlier in the year, which resulted in the victory of George Galloway – even if your party has a candidate, you do not feel like you can support them to be your representative, due to things they have said, or beliefs which they hold.

What ought we to do as Christians in such circumstances? Are there right and wrong courses of action?

Christians will take different views in response to these questions, but here are three possible routes we might take if we're struggling to work out who we might vote for.

1. Vote for the least bad option

Continued below.

Do you feel like you can\'t vote for anyone?

We do not expect to agree with everything that a party stands for; no candidate will exactly replicate the values which we hold. But sometimes the differences just feel insurmountable.

christiantoday.com

From a British perspective this may be more helpful because it didn't name two particularly American candidates.

I note (for those who will not read the fine article) that the author suggests voting third party as the best solution.

Tuur · Jun 13, 2024

Michie said:
1. Vote for the least bad option

That's the option I take. It's been decades since I voted for someone. I've come close to not voting at all. Whether or not I think they will win isn't the point, and I've voted for candidates I figured would lose because I thought their opponent was more odious.

Fouling ballots makes no sense at all. how they are fouled isn't recorded, only that they were. A far better option would be to write in a candidate you thought would do a better job. Write-ins are recorded as they received at lease one vote. That said, decades of voters writing in names like None of the Above or fictional characters has made no difference at all.

chevyontheriver · Jun 13, 2024

Tuur said:
That's the option I take. It's been decades since I voted for someone. I've come close to not voting at all.

Wouldn't it be nice to vote FOR someone?

The problem with voting against someone is that your brain then aligns you with that other sordid candidate you did vote for and soon you start defending the sordid candidate you voted for when you shouldn't be defending them either.

Ignatius the Kiwi · Jun 13, 2024

Fantine said:
Isn't rendering to Caesar making the most prudent decisions to serve the common good?
That is what I strive to do.

Which (to you) means doing and supporting whatever the democrats do, which means undermining Christianity in public life.

You don't have yo lend legitimacy to a system that hates you and your religion, like the Republicans and Democrats in the USA do.

It is a legitimate option to not participate or lend credibility. The less people who vote, the lesser the mandate for the so called democracy to have control over you.

Ignatius the Kiwi · Jun 13, 2024

When it comes to the British system, the Tories do not deserve any conservative or right wingers vote. They have consistently betrayed their base and abused their mandate, particularly through the importing of millions of migrants. They deserve zero seats.

Tropical Wilds · Jun 13, 2024

Not voting is not a moral or ethical option for me and I’ve yet to see the election with “nobody” to vote for.

Philip_B · Jun 13, 2024

Sometimes electors are required to determine the least worst option!?

We have preferential voting in Australia where you have to number the candidates and I recall one election where I started at 48 and worked my way to the least bad option, the last candidate standing, who got the "1" in the list.

jacks · Jun 13, 2024

I recently moved and haven't reregistered to vote. Frankly at this point I'm unmotivated to do so. I really feel I should just take a break from it all.

AlexB23 · Jun 13, 2024

jacks said:
I recently moved and haven't reregistered to vote. Frankly at this point I'm unmotivated to do so. I really feel I should just take a break from it all.

Maybe stick to voting for local and state elections. Avoiding presidential elections could work.

Tuur · Jun 13, 2024

AlexB23 said:
Maybe stick to voting for local and state elections. Avoiding presidential elections could work.

Not here. I almost didn't vote in the last local election because I didn't have a high opinion of the candidates running for sheriff.

AlexB23 · Jun 13, 2024

Tuur said:
Not here. I almost didn't vote in the last local election because I didn't have a high opinion of the candidates, running for sheriff.

I don't wanna ask, but is your city like a far-left city? The city that I am in has relatively weak cops as well.

godisagardener · Jun 13, 2024

I've voted third party the last two elections. I've considered not voting for anyone for President in November, but likely will vote third party again. It's sad that neither major party seems willing or able to move beyond the current two candidates. There must be others available who could fill the job, but it's difficult enough just to draw any support among their peers or delegates.

Oh that we were back in the days when people didn't blindly follow any certain person or party, and there were a handful from each side that had a chance for nomination.

Philip_B · Jun 13, 2024

Since Literally Anybody Else is running, and in one sense I shouldn't be involved, but if I were an American I might be tempted to vote for someone other than the current front runners.

AlexB23 · Jun 13, 2024

Philip_B said:
Since Literally Anybody Else is running, and in one sense I shouldn't be involved, but if I were an American I might be tempted to vote for someone other than the current front runners.

Who would you vote for besides the two main candidates, if you were American?

Philip_B · Jun 13, 2024

AlexB23 said:
Who would you vote for besides the two main candidates, if you were American?

Literally Anybody Else - sadly of course I have a sense of humour!?

Do you feel like you can't vote for anyone?

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