Educate Yourself For Elections

Well, for my United States counterparts this week is big for our country. Unfortunately for many it’s dreaded due to a heated and controversial presidential election. However, today my goal is not to get into the politics of which candidates to choose or how to vote. Rather today I’d like to focus on the importance of and ways to educate yourself for elections.

In fact, I firmly believe not only do you have a civic duty to educate yourself for elections, but a spiritual duty as well. How else can you rightly divide the truth and how you, your community, your country, and ultimately how the Kingdom of God will be impacted?

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” Colossians 2:8 (NLT)

After all, we WILL be held accountable to God for our actions. Part of those actions will include voting (or the lack of doing so). You cannot vote your convictions if you have not spent the time to educate yourself for elections taking place in your area.

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:12 (NIV)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) 

The Christian duty to vote

“Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.” Deuteronomy 1:13 (NLT)

Part of the impact and influence Christians have in this world includes how we vote for the people and laws that lead and govern us.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” Proverbs 14:34 (NIV)

“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” Proverbs 29:2 (NLT)

I loved this quote…

“Voting is an opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve godly government. Passing up that opportunity means letting those who would denigrate the name of Christ have their way in our lives. The leaders we elect—or do nothing to remove—have great influence on our freedoms.”  https://gotquestions.org/Christians-vote.html

It is our duty to be informed voters and to vote our convictions. In order to become an informed voter and to vote effectively you must spend time to educate yourself for elections.

But I don’t understand any of it!

It can be extremely overwhelming to try to educate yourself for elections when it seems like they make some of it so difficult to understand. I get it. I can’t say that I haven’t been standing in a polling booth saying a short prayer before filling in each box and then choosing the box based on bad/good feelings! 😛 I know—really scientific right?! I guess it was better than playing eeny meeny miny moe!  Very irresponsible is what it was though. It was either that or leave it blank though because I simply didn’t get it.

State questions can be worded so you can’t tell whether you are voting for or against something. Then, it’s hard to tell what the pros and cons are if you haven’t researched it first. Some things sound like a good idea on the surface, but are they? Primary elections can be tough because it can be difficult to determine which candidate is most in line with your own views. Moreover, what about the retention of judges and justices? How do you know if they lean more liberal or conservative?

You know you are supposed to be responsible and learn as much as you can. So what are some ways to do that?

Take Some Practical Steps To Educate Yourself For Elections:

• Use sites that already have all of the information compiled for you to educate yourself for elections in your area/state. The Oklahoma Bar Association created Courtfacts.org to provide facts to voters. It has information available for the retention ballot.

Also, we have used Ballotpedia.org which has been extremely helpful for us to learn more about the people and issues of the elections. The homepage has a drop-down menu to explore elections by state. Once you get to your state’s page, you can explore in more detail (i.e. by clicking on “State ballot measures”).

• Furthermore, continue to educate yourself for elections by looking at all sides of the issues. Research the questions, try to find info on the judges/justices, and look at the voting records and stances of each candidate campaigning. After seeing each perspective, stay on God’s side. Always align yourself with God’s view, principles, and morals.

“The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.” Proverbs 18:17 (HCSB)

“…If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NLT)

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” Proverbs 14:34 (NIV)

• Subscribe to blogs or newsletters that you trust and that have like-minded faith, morals, and viewpoints. I personally subscribe to Focus on the Family and American Family Association. They often send out resources that are helpful in assisting me learn more on current issues and/or even candidates.
• Access and browse your local government websites. Often they will have something like an online voter tool to do things like confirm your registration, find your polling place, track your absentee ballot, or view a sample ballot.
• Lastly and most importantly, pray for guidance from God in your decision-making. This article contains an excellent Election Day Prayer to pray both before and one for after you vote. The prayers are two centuries old but still have just as much relevance and significance today.

What resources to you use to educate yourself for elections? Share them with us by leaving a comment below.

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)