Obligation to Vote on Everything?

[Melodeonist]

I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that Catholics are obliged to vote. I understand voting for Governors, Senators, Presidents, etc., but are we obliged to vote on things that we may not even care about such as school budget, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Voting is not an “obligation” it is a privilege denied to many around he world.

And, there are “unimportant” elections. The school board vote may mean nothing to you, but it does to taxpayers, students & teachers. As someone who claims to be a musician, would you like to see music education taken out of schools for the lack of money? It happens a lot where I live when a school budget doesn’t pass. Sports, music, drama, are all lost in an austerity budget.

Sadly, though, many people see no point. In the town where I grew up, one of the largest districts in western NY, less than 10% of eligible voters voted.

 

[Melodeonist]

Thanks for the reply!

While voting is always a good thing, I often don’t know when there’s a vote going on, or I just can’t be bothered to get out and vote. If it’s a presidential, congressional, senatorial, etc. then I will vote 99.999% guaranteed.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi Melodeonist,

If you want to, you can get on the Absentee voting list in your area, if you think that you might miss the voting time period due to your personal schedule.

You would have to sign up in enough time to do it though, so that your local municipal clerk’s office can put you on the mailing list to send out a ballot to you.

You will then get every single ballot for which there is an election in your community.

You will get the school board ballots, the aldermanic and judicial ballots for your state and local elections–any and all ballots for any/all elections.

 

[pensmama87]

Thanks for the reply!

While voting is always a good thing, I often don’t know when there’s a vote going on, or I just can’t be bothered to get out and vote. If it’s a presidential, congressional, senatorial, etc. then I will vote 99.999% guaranteed.

As far as impact to your daily life, the local elections arguably matter more, and your vote counts more.

Primaries and general elections, at least in the US, are on fixed days (primaries set by state).

As far as it being sinful, no, but residents should care about what happens where they live.

 

[pianistclare]

As far as impact to your daily life, the local elections arguably matter more, and your vote counts more.

Primaries and general elections, at least in the US, are on fixed days (primaries set by state).

As far as it being sinful, no, but residents should care about what happens where they live.

Agreed.
When you are older and have children or nieces and nephews…you will “be bothered” to vote.

 

[Convert_in_99]

Nope. Thankfully!

My parents were extremely political.

It was a 24/7/365 thing in our house. In season and out.

I now hate all things political. So does my sister.

It literally makes me ill.

I no longer vote.

 

[KildareBrigid]

As far as impact to your daily life, the local elections arguably matter more, and your vote counts more.

Primaries and general elections, at least in the US, are on fixed days (primaries set by state).

As far as it being sinful, no, but residents should care about what happens where they live.

^Nailed it.

 

[felsguy]

Hi Melodeonist,

If you want to, you can get on the Absentee voting list in your area, if you think that you might miss the voting time period due to your personal schedule.

You would have to sign up in enough time to do it though, so that your local municipal clerk’s office can put you on the mailing list to send out a ballot to you.

You will then get every single ballot for which there is an election in your community.

You will get the school board ballots, the aldermanic and judicial ballots for your state and local elections–any and all ballots for any/all elections.

Be sure to check the absentee voting procedures for your particular state (call your local county board of elections). Some states require that an application for an absentee ballot must be submitted prior to each election.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Be sure to check the absentee voting procedures for your particular state (call your local county board of elections). Some states require that an application for an absentee ballot must be submitted prior to each election.

Thanks for pointing this out.

It slipped my mind to tell him this, so I am thankful that you mentioned this information.

In my state, I have to sign an updated form periodically, indicating whether or not I still need to receive an Absentee ballot, but I don’t have to do it before each election though.

 

[Mintaka]

Re: the OP’s question –

As long as you’re not dealing with an unjust government, or if you’re dealing with the parts that are just, a Catholic is supposed to act like a good citizen in his own country, and a good neighbor in countries where he’s a foreigner. The early Christians tried to do this even under evil Roman emperors, so it’s a pretty important thing.

So generally, a Catholic in the US should vote, do jury duty, and keep up with current affairs, as well as being a law-abiding citizen. In the US, even cloistered nuns have generally been encouraged to vote (absentee, of course!).

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that Catholics are obliged to vote. I understand voting for Governors, Senators, Presidents, etc., but are we obliged to vote on things that we may not even care about such as school budget, etc.?

Thanks!

No, you don’t have to vote on everything. I follow elections closely but if you think I know the ideals of some huge I’ve never met or some other initiative that doesn’t concern me I think sometimes it is a better idea to abstain than to vote. Especially the way things can be worded on the ballot.

More money for cute kids in schools!? Why not. Except you may not be aware of the economic impact of higher taxes so the schools can upgrade to the new I pads…
Do your best to know the issues and candidates and then vote your conscience.

 

[ILoveYeshua]

According to the CCC:
“Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country” (CCC 2240). Looks like Catholics have a general obligation to vote.

 

[pianistclare]

According to the CCC:
“Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country” (CCC 2240). Looks like Catholics have a general obligation to vote.

yup.

 

[Bookcat]

Voting is not an “obligation” it is a privilege denied to many around he world.

Actually it IS an** obligation** (see the Catechism).

 

[Bookcat]

I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that Catholics are obliged to vote. I understand voting for Governors, Senators, Presidents, etc., but are we obliged to vote on things that we may not even care about such as school budget, etc.?

Thanks!

There are I imagine that yes there can be things that one will not vote on or cannot realistically even- one has so no competence or knowledge etc etc - but certainly in general yes there is as you note an obligation to vote.

Your confessor can advise you.

 

[b_ulmen]

According to the CCC:
“Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country” (CCC 2240). Looks like Catholics have a general obligation to vote.

Oh my, how many millions of Catholics are living in daily sin for not being a veteran? Do they even realize they have sinned by not being a veteran?

There’s more than one way to defend your country you say? I agree. And not casting a ballot is a viable option under “right to vote”.

Not voting is no more a sin than not serving in the military.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

There are I imagine that yes there can be things that one will not vote on or cannot realistically even- one has so no competence or knowledge etc etc - but certainly in general yes there is as you note an obligation to vote.

Your confessor can advise you.

The catechism makes no reference to qualifications on the obligation to vote, like being incompetent or unknowledgeable.

There is an obligation to vote just as there is an obligation to gives alms to the poor, or, as b_ulmen just pointed out, to defend the country. These are general obligations. They do not mean one must give alms to every poor person they see, or that everyone must join the armed forces, or that we must vote in every presidential election. What we can’t do is have a cold heart that refuses alms for all the poor, abdicate all responsibility for common defense, or distain the election process completely.