Voting

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Athanasius:
Is it a mortal sin not to vote?
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Every Catholic who has the right to vote should execercise that right by voting for candidates with Christian principles. It is a serious obligation to use that right properly.

Voting falls under the flip side of the fourth commandment, to be dutiful towards our country. Here’s what the Catechism says;

2240 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:

Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

[Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. . . . They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. . . . So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it.
The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”

But sorry it doesn’t answer your question about whether it is a mortal sin!
 
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Athanasius:
Is it a mortal sin not to vote?
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Is it possible to not vote and have it not be a sin? Yes. Is it possible to not vote and have it be a venial sin? Yes. Is it possible to not vote and have it be mortal? That is harder. I think your question is really, can failure to vote or voting in a foul manner be grave?

I answer that question yes. Voting affects the common good. Say by your vote you could affect the abortion laws for real. Say the person in complete contempt for the common good deliberately voted for abortion so as to see more people die. That would be grave. You could also fail to vote in disgust of the common good as well.

However, usually the problem is lack of time to do suitable research. This dumps it out of grave. It is more likely to be grave if you are on a policy board of 7 members and you aren’t just some peon.

Do you think a supreme court justice can do something grave with a concurrence or dissent?
 
Thanks for your replies.

I certainly wish to vote, and I plan on doing so whenever I can.

However, at times it seems I cannot find adequate information on the local candidates I need to make an informed vote, and so I don’t wish to make a vote that could be wrong (which would seem to be worse than not voting at all, of course). I would think that would be an adequate reason to refrain. But then, I have a problem with scrupulosity, and get concerned that I “could” find the information if I would “try harder”. And then I get concerned it is a sin. I would be specially concerned if it was a mortal sin.

This deals more with on the local level, actually. On the national level or state level, it is much easier for me to find the information I need on candidates, and so I have no problem voting then. It’s on the local level that I don’t know where to find the information I need. So I don’t wish to vote then without that information. But then I get concerned perhaps I would be committing a sin after all, that I could find the information if I “tried harder”…
 
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Athanasius:
But then, I have a problem with scrupulosity, and get concerned that I “could” find the information if I would “try harder”. And then I get concerned it is a sin. I would be specially concerned if it was a mortal sin.

This deals more with on the local level, actually.
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First, what you are talking about does not sound anywhere near grave matter, so if you still feel it is, I recommend asking your confessor how to put the issue at rest.

I agree, information on local candidates can take considerable time to acquire. Often the easiest way is to read the local papers and their endorsements, but that takes a subscription ($$) or time in the library going through old papers. The League of Women Voters, if you live in the US, or other similar organizations, can have info on the local candidates.

For myself, I have resolved to allot a certain reasonable amount of time to secure voting information. Voting is a duty that can be superseded by other responsibilities. I use up what time I deem reasonable, and that is it. I have no obligation to cut into my sleep or family time to secure info. Have you considered voting in each election, but only on the races for which you have information? You can leave part of the ballot unmarked, at least you can in the US.
 
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Athanasius:
Thanks for your replies.

I certainly wish to vote, and I plan on doing so whenever I can.

However, at times it seems I cannot find adequate information on the local candidates I need to make an informed vote, and so I don’t wish to make a vote that could be wrong (which would seem to be worse than not voting at all, of course). I would think that would be an adequate reason to refrain. But then, I have a problem with scrupulosity, and get concerned that I “could” find the information if I would “try harder”. And then I get concerned it is a sin. I would be specially concerned if it was a mortal sin.

This deals more with on the local level, actually. On the national level or state level, it is much easier for me to find the information I need on candidates, and so I have no problem voting then. It’s on the local level that I don’t know where to find the information I need. So I don’t wish to vote then without that information. But then I get concerned perhaps I would be committing a sin after all, that I could find the information if I “tried harder”…
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This may help you and it does refer to trying to vote correctly for your local candidates.

Catholic Voters Guide
 
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