JW'S can vote!

by kool aid man06 23 Replies latest members politics

• 

  Awakened at Gilead

  You can vote if the country's law requires it. But JWs are supposed to annul their vote. Since this is in Ghana, I assume that voting may be mandatory, so JWs may vote there.

  When I lived in Ecuador, voting was a legal requirement. You could not own property or even open a bank account without your voting card that you received as proof you voted after each election. As special pioneers, I went with my ex-wife several times as she voted. I relished telling my American friends that we had "voted"... but annulled our vote by voting for more than one candidate.

  So voting in of itself is not a DFing offense (there is a 2000 WT that confirms this), but voting for a specific candidate is.
• 

  isaacaustin

  WOW. What gymnastic there. So Lance, a JW voting and anulling that vote is fine. But if a JW in America were to vote for Obama, for instnace, and mention at the service meeting tonight to others that they voted for Obama they would likely be dfed?
• 

  yknot

  If an active JW in America voted and it was public knowledge (and they did not repent) would the elders take action or does it depend on the body of elders? Would the person be dfed? Would they instead be involuntarily daed? Would presentation of the '99 WT work in their defense at all?

  I think the Elders would have to DF to 'keep the flock clean', to set an example, and discipline and set straight such waywardness. Repentance and submission to adjust the active JWs thinking on the matter is crucial...... Even if the person did repent and submitted to theocratic authority at the very least a reproof would be in order since it was public knowledge. If not then it is basically rolling out the red carpet and inviting Satan and a 5-piece band into the fold, if Bro Garrett got away with it then Bro John might think it was really okay too.
• 

  shopaholic

  When I lived in Ecuador, voting was a legal requirement. But JWs are supposed to annul their vote.

  AG,

  'Suppose' being the keyword. Many JWs did not annul their vote but tooke advantage of it as an opportunity for change. Including elders and COs. Many also thought it was strange that north americans did not vote when given the option.
• 

  blondie

  Countries that enforce compulsory voting:

  • Argentina (compulsory for citizens between 18 and 70 years old, non-compulsory for those older than 70)
  • Australia (compulsory enrolment and voting for both state * and national elections for all adults over 18).
  • Belgium
  • Brazil (non-compulsory for citizens between 16 and 18 years old and those older than 70; military conscripts cannot vote)
  • Chile (enrolment voluntary)
  • Cyprus
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ecuador (compulsory for citizens between 18 and 64 years old, non-compulsory for those older than 65)
  • Fiji
  • Lebanon (compulsory for men older than 21)
  • Liechtenstein
  • Nauru
  • Peru (compulsory for citizens between 18 and 70 years old, non-compulsory for those older than 70)
  • Singapore
  • Switzerland (compulsory in the Canton of Schaffhausen only)
  • Turkey
  • Uruguay

  * In South Australia it is not compulsory to enroll for state elections. [3] [4] [5] Nevertheless, as the enrollment form is a combined Federal/State one, with no provision to not enroll for the State, [3] it is compulsory in effect.
• 

  yknot

  
• 

  minimus

  Gilead, wasn't the Society concerned that you might stumble someone??
• 

  skeeter1

  Standing in line to cast my ballot, it dawned on me why the WTS forbids voting.
  
  I know the party line "want no part of this world." Yet, the WTS acknowledges that governments are necessary for the smooth operation. "A worldly government is better than none."
  
  The WTS consistently tells followers that this world is terrible, and getting worse every minute. All the while, the WTS also preaches that its way is the only way towards salvation. Within the Organization, you must accept the Society's mandates and viewpoints without question as to who, what, why, where, or how those decisions were made.
  
  When you vote, you are voting in the hopes of making a positive choice to effect your lifestyle. You are being proactive, and the choices the voters collectively make, in turn, affect our lives. You are not "accepting" whatever law comes down from Washington DC. You have the power of the vote, to vote the lawmakers in and out of power.
  
  That "choice" to vote is essential to freedom. Freedom is something the WTS abhors. Followers have no freedom to question the Society's newest dictate. Imagine if you raised your hand in the middle of the Sunday reading of the Watchtower, and said, "I don't agree with this paragraph..." For that matter, wear jeans outside of a convention or announce that you are going to college. If you openly disagree with the WTS, they are ready to oust you for apostacy and destroy your life. The Watchtower Society is a dictatorship, not a democracy. Followers can not "vote" the Governing Body out of power, or are even privy to the decision making that goes on at Bethel.
  
  The WTS conditions followers to not vote. The reasons are self-evident. It placates the followers into accepting authority and laws, all the while reinforcing that the "current system" is corrupt and the WTS is the only answer.
  
  Skeeter
• 

  sacolton

  According to this, it's a conscience decision ...

  w99 11/1 pp. 28-29
  Questions From Readers
  
  How do Jehovah’s Witnesses view voting?
  There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.
  What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections.(Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State.(Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.

  If anyone gets called into the back room and threatened to be disfellowshipped or disassociated ... shove this in their face.
• 

  Awakened at Gilead

  Thanks sacolton, that's the article I was thinking about.

  In those countries Blondie posted, I'm sure the local branch sends out letters clarifying that JWs can vote in their elections...

  So its not considered a sin since the government makes you do it... (always keep in mind JWs twisted reasoning!)

  A@G