Am I required to vote?

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You could easily write in the name of a real, qualified person who you honestly support for the elected position. This would not be " copping out".
 
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Roseeurekacross:
It’s a saying in politics, it’s not meaning to vote for evil.
From what I do know of Catholicism, I wonder how any good Catholic could have voted for either of the two main candidates in the last presidential election.
It’s because we as Catholics are aloud to vote for platform instead of person. I voted against Donald Trump in the primary, but I voted for him in the general election. To me, the choice was pretty simple. I looked at the two platforms approved at both conventions, and sided 100% with the documented Republican platform.

Was Donald Trump a flawed candidate, of course. But does God work though flawed candidates, yes.

To me, Hillary Clinton represents Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals.” We cannot have a people who subscribe to that kind of thinking running the United States.

In my opinion, the Communist and socialist wing of the Democratic party are starting to flex their power, and they are using “Rules for Radicals” as a way to make it happen.

If you watch EWTN’s “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” you will see why so many Catholics voted for Trump

 
In addition to what was said about platform above, we do not get a good idea of what type of person a candidate really is from the news coverage during an election cycle. I have good reason to believe that some are not as bad as the media paints them, and have also seen several cases of candidates presented in the media as good people who in actuality had all kinds of questionable habits that were largely swept under the rug. For example, JFK had some highly questionable behaviors.
 
You aren’t obligated to vote, but I like the idea of writing someone in. If you’re not going to vote, why would anyone in political office listen to you?
 
You aren’t obligated to vote, but I like the idea of writing someone in. If you’re not going to vote, why would anyone in political office listen to you?
Like voting would make any difference?
 
The bottom line for me is the Constitution. Every president takes an oath to uphold and defend it. I am 60 years old and there has not been one president in my lifetime who has honored his oath of office. Why should I think that will change?
 
The bottom line for me is the Constitution. Every president takes an oath to uphold and defend it. I am 60 years old and there has not been one president in my lifetime who has honored his oath of office. Why should I think that will change?
Then don’t vote for the President. But you should still vote for your Congressman, and state and local officials. It’s important to help vote in people who are going to promote the common good or at least not allow things to get worse.

God Bless!
 
It’s the same the world over. That’s why, as others have said, the platform is important. Look, for example, at that Nobel laureate in Burma…

If you guys throw a Mickey Mouse, does that vote go, automatically, to the standing candidate?

Also you guys made Gerry Mander a thing. There’s a tonne of corruption or not, depending how it’s seen, in that.
 
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If you guys throw a Mickey Mouse, does that vote go, automatically, to the standing candidate?
in the USA, no, the ballot is put aside and the write-ins are counted separately. We do no have “standing” candidates. When a position comes to a vote it is considered empty. Incumbents are simply those who currently or last filled that office.
 
I can understand doing that.

Sometimes we feel like we’re faced with a dilemma on who to choose, or what to do…

It can feel like a difficulty.
 
In the US voting isn’t a right. If the Catholic Church were to teach that voting is a right that would repudiated centuries of teaching. The fact that the catechism seems to assume we live in modern democracies seems to me odd.

I do not think it can be possible that we are always obliged to vote, even a write in, in any particular election. If we lived under a communist government not voting could be an important act of self sacrifice for the common good. It would help to undermine that evil system. Communists were really big on everyone voting. It gave the terrible system an air of legitimacy. I feel the same way about most elections.
 
If at all possible, you should at least write in Padre Pio or Mother Theresa. Just make your voice heard.

I think especially in the First World Parliamentary systems, there are usually good candidates or candidates who can move the needle on key issues if people would take the time to think about it.
 
You ARE correct; we Catholics [AND ALL CHRISTIANS TOO] are not only gravely and Morally obligated to VOTE; we are to VOTE for [national level] for the PARTY that does not proudly advocate Abortion “rights”; same sex marriages and gay "rights’ as ALL of these are directly OPPOSED TO GOD"S DIVINE WILL.

To just look the other way is to IN EFFECT; condone there agenda.

Like the Franciscans teach: "IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS"

Pray very MUCH & Please VOTE!

Patrick
 
I agree.
I also think it is our patriotic duty to vote
Remember when Obama said he has a pen and a phone and would get his agenda through with or without congress. He stated that less than a third of the country had voted AGAINST him. He had to be counting his actual vote total plus those who did not vote vs actual votes against him.
When I heard this I freaked. I had been saying for several elections that a vote that stayed home was a vote FOR the winner.
B.O. proved me right. Don’t stay home. VOTE.
 
In the US, the Bishops have provided us with wise guidance. Perhaps it will help those citizens of other countries as well?

The answer for us is “No”, in fact despite what some well intentioned folks say:

36. When all candidates hold a position that promotes an intrinsically evil act, the
conscientious voter faces a dilemma. The voter may decide to take the extraordinary step of not
voting for any candidate or, after careful deliberation, may decide to vote for the candidate
deemed less likely to advance such a morally flawed position and more likely to pursue other
authentic human goods.


 
All that is needed for evil to win is for good people to do nothing.
Find out who will be on the ballot next election as soon as you can. If there is only evil then get involved. Do what you can to get someone you can vote for on the ballot.
 
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