Faith and the Ballot: Why Christians should vote

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

With elections just around the corner, you can feel the tension in the air. The news is buzzing, social media is ablaze, and it seems like everyone has something to say—except for a lot of people who are choosing not to vote at all.

For many, the frustration is understandable. But for Christians, disengaging isn’t really an option. Our faith doesn’t stop at the church door; it touches every part of our lives, including how we participate in society.

We’re called to be stewards of the world around us, and voting is one simple, yet powerful, way to do that. It’s a chance to make sure our communities reflect the Godly values we cherish—justice, peace, and loving your neighbor. In Jeremiah 29:7, God tells the exiled Israelites to “seek the welfare of the city” where they live, adding, “for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” In other words, our well-being is tied to the well-being of the place where God has put us, and voting is one way we contribute to that.

But let’s be real. Sometimes it feels like our vote doesn’t make a difference, or that no candidate truly represents our values. You might be thinking, “The system is corrupt, and there are no good options! Why should I even bother voting?”

Fair question.

So, what can we do when it feels like there’s no perfect candidate?

Start with prayer.

The world isn’t perfect. It wasn’t in Jeremiah’s day, and it isn’t now. But that doesn’t mean we throw our hands up. We start by trusting in God’s wisdom. Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” When faced with tough choices, we pray for guidance, research the options, and vote for the candidate who aligns most closely with biblical principles—even if they’re not perfect.

Remember: Every vote is a seed.

It’s easy to feel like your single vote won’t change anything, but in Galatians 6:9, Paul encourages us not to give up on doing good. He says, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Your vote is a seed of hope. Even if you don’t see immediate results, trust that God can use it to make a difference in ways you might not expect.

God is still in control.

At the end of the day, our faith is in God, not in any political system. Romans 13:1 reminds us that all authority is established by God. This doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. By voting, we are fulfilling our role as faithful stewards of the community. But we also trust that God is working through the bigger picture, even when things seem out of control.

Just as Pilate’s hand-washing couldn’t absolve him from Jesus’s fate, choosing not to vote doesn’t free us from responsibility. Inaction, like action, shapes outcomes—and we’re accountable for the leaders our silence helps empower.

In a democracy, every voter holds a piece of the future in their hands. And as Christians, we’re called to shape that future in a way that reflects God’s heart. Let’s not be silent, but instead, let’s vote in a way that brings justice, peace, and hope to our communities.