Yes, Christians should vote when they have the opportunity. Voting is one way we “seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7), love our neighbor (Mark 12:31), and steward the freedom God has placed in our hands (Luke 12:48). But we vote with open hands, because God is the one who “removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21). Our hope is in a King, not a candidate.
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Every election season, the same question comes up. Whether it’s a Presidential election, a race for mayor, or a school board seat nobody’s talking about… what does voting mean for a Christian? Should I vote or not? And why?
Let’s be honest. Elections can bring out the worst in us. Social media gets loud. Family dinners get tense. Some Christians are all in, and others want nothing to do with any of it. So let’s slow down and look at what the Bible actually says.
Doesn’t God Already Know Who Will Win?
Yes. He does.
The Word says there is no authority except from God, and “those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). God has appointed every leader who has held office in the past, He’s doing the same right now, and He will keep doing it long after we’re gone. If God could be shocked by the outcome of an election (whoops, didn’t see that one coming), what would that say about God? Of course He knows who will be in office. He’s the one who puts them there.
So if God already knows, is there even a reason to vote?
Think about it this way. God is the Creator and knows all things, including who will ultimately be in heaven and hell. Does that mean we stop sharing the Gospel? Of course not. God’s sovereignty has never been an excuse for our inactivity. It’s the reason we can obey with confidence.
What we really should be asking is this: how could we not share the Gospel? How could we not vote? Christ died for our past, present, and future sins, and we get a relationship with Him for all eternity. Out of a joyful obedience from the Cross, the Holy Spirit leads us to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The same heart that moves us to share Jesus moves us to care about the people and the place God has put us.
Why Voting Is an Act of Stewardship
God has appointed our days here on earth: the nation we live in, the freedoms we have, and the time period we live in (Acts 17:26). For Christians who are Americans, that includes the opportunity and the freedom to vote.
That’s a gift. And gifts come with responsibility.
“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)
If we are in Christ, we will not be condemned. Period. But we will still give an account for how we used what we were given (2 Corinthians 5:10). That includes the vote we could have cast… and why we did or didn’t.
When God’s people were carried off to Babylon, a pagan nation with a pagan king, God didn’t tell them to check out. He told them to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). If that was true for exiles in Babylon, how much more for us, when we actually get a say?
I think at times if we could go to countries that don’t have the same freedoms we do, we would realize what we have and stop taking it for granted. People around the world have bled and died for the right to vote. Let’s not shrug it off.
How to Vote With a Christian Conscience
This post isn’t going to tell you who to vote for. That’s not my job, and honestly, it’s not the Church’s job either. But the Bible does tell us how to vote.
- Start with Scripture, not your feed. Let God’s Word shape your convictions before a news channel or a party does. Micah 6:8 is a great filter: “do justice… love kindness… walk humbly with your God.”
- Look at character, not just promises. Honesty, integrity, humility, and how someone treats people matter to God. They should matter to us too.
- Weigh the issues against God’s heart. Life, justice, truth, care for the poor and vulnerable, the family, and the freedom to worship. Ask how each choice lines up with what God cares about.
- Seek wise counsel. “In an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Talk it through with mature believers, especially ones who might see it differently than you.
Do the research. Understand what you are voting for and why. A Christian conscience isn’t a gut feeling. It’s a heart and mind being shaped by the Word.
What If I Don’t Like Any of the Candidates?
You’re not alone. Plenty of Christians walk into the booth feeling like they’re choosing the lesser of two imperfect options.
Here’s the thing. There has never been a perfect candidate. Not once. The only perfect leader who ever walked this earth was Jesus, and He isn’t on the ballot. Every candidate is a sinner in need of grace… just like you and me.
So pray. Ask God for wisdom, because He promises to give it “generously to all without reproach” (James 1:5). Then prayerfully make the most faithful choice you can and trust that God will be glorified and do His work through whoever ends up in office.
And don’t skip the rest of the ballot. Local races (city council, school board, judges, county offices) often affect your daily life more than the big headline races do. And they’re often decided by just a handful of votes.
How to Love People Who Vote Differently
This might be the hardest part of election season. Some of the people you love most are going to vote differently than you. Some of them are in your small group. Some of them are sitting across the table at the holidays.
Can I be transparent? I’ve seen more Christians damage their witness over politics than almost anything else. A post, a comment, a heated argument, and suddenly people know what we think about a candidate, but they have no idea what we think about Jesus.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)
Hold your convictions. Speak the truth. But do it in love. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). A vote lasts one day. Your witness lasts a lot longer.
Our Hope Isn’t in an Election
Most importantly, we can find encouragement in this: whoever is in office, God has appointed that leader and will accomplish His will. “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).
So if your candidate wins, don’t gloat. If your candidate loses, don’t panic. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalm 146:3). No president, governor, or senator is coming to save us. Someone already did.
Our citizenship is in heaven, and “from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Elections come and go. His Kingdom never ends.
In the meantime, we pray for our leaders, our nation, and all the other nations as well (1 Timothy 2:1-2). The Presidential Prayer Team is a great resource with many options for how you can pray for the leaders of America.
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:13-17)
Before You Vote: A Quick Checklist
- Pray first. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) and pray for every candidate by name, including the ones you won’t vote for.
- Make sure you’re registered. Check your registration, polling place, and voting dates with your county elections office.
- Look at your whole ballot. Find a sample ballot ahead of time so nothing catches you off guard.
- Do your research. Read what candidates actually say and how they’ve actually served. Go to the source, not just the headline.
- Vote the local races too. School board, city council, judges, and propositions matter.
- Weigh it against Scripture. Character, justice, truth, and love for neighbor (Micah 6:8).
- Go vote, then trust God. Leave the outcome in His hands and keep loving your neighbor no matter who wins.
For the fact that God has placed you in a position to be able to vote, there is no reason not to. Go vote… and then go live like your hope is in Jesus. Because it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Bible say anything about voting?
Not directly. Democratic voting didn’t exist when the Bible was written. But Scripture gives us the principles: seek the welfare of the place God has put you (Jeremiah 29:7), love your neighbor (Mark 12:31), pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and steward what you’ve been given (Luke 12:48). Voting is one practical way to live all four out.
Is it a sin for a Christian not to vote?
The Bible never commands voting, so skipping a ballot isn’t listed as a sin. But we will give an account for how we used the opportunities and freedoms God gave us (Luke 12:48). Most Christians who sit out aren’t standing on conviction. They’re just discouraged. Pray about it and don’t waste the opportunity.
Should Christians vote if they don’t like any of the candidates?
Usually, yes. No candidate will ever be perfect, because none of us are. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5), weigh character and policies against Scripture, and make the most faithful choice available. Then trust God, who “removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21), with the outcome.
Can a Christian vote for a candidate who isn’t a Christian?
Yes. Scripture shows God working through leaders who didn’t know Him, like Cyrus in Isaiah 45. We aren’t electing a pastor. We’re choosing who will govern, so weigh character, honesty, and how they will seek the good of the people they serve.
How should Christians respond when their candidate loses?
The same way we respond when they win: with prayer, honor, and hope in Jesus. We are called to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and to honor everyone (1 Peter 2:17), and our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). No election result changes who is on the throne.
Go deeper: Scripture on Politics · Proverbs 29: Politics of Proverbs · Of His Kingdom There Will Be No End · Bible Verses About Decisions
Questions: Do you plan to vote? How do you pray about your vote? How do you stay loving toward people who see things differently? Please comment below and join the conversation.
Here are other Frequently Asked Questions and how the Bible answers them.
Man that was SOME robust dialogue.
Mike, I have to tell you that I take some beef with your post. But I will put in two disclaimers – one, you’ve written with far more grace than many have on this topic; two, my philosophy this time out is that your personal conviction is the right choice and I won’t judge anyone for who they vote for – or for not voting (unless they are in a “battleground state” and they vote 3rd party, but I digress). Your post states that: “For the fact that God has placed you in a position to be able to votefor… Read more »
ryanbrymer so, that begs the question then, are you going to vote? And if so, would you be so kind as to explain why.
danieldehart the day is young. Mr. Mobley may still be able to convince me to change my mind.
ryanbrymer so, if he has to convince you, that means that your stance right now is that you will NOT be voting?
danieldehart all I stated is that my mind is made up. Maybe I’m going to vote and a mis-step by sir Michael could turn me the other way. There’s really a lot riding on his response (not really Mike, don’t freak out, I’m just messing with my ever-argumentative counterpart). It’s unfortunate that he is probably in staff meeting and unable to answer these burning questions.
ryanbrymer Thanks ryanbrymer and danieldehart so much for your comments! I am definitely grateful for the opportunity to read them and to grow as a writer. I will be the first to admit, looking back, there are points within this post that could have been articulated and communicated better. Specifically, when posing the question, “Why would you not vote?”. First off, I would encourage anyone to ask themselves this question, to simply check their heart motive behind the decision to vote or not. Also, let me clarify the audience I intended. Those I had in mind might be better described as the apathetic or… Read more »
Mike Mobley I appreciate your humility and clarification. (which is better than humiliation and clarity.)
I guess that my biggest fear (and you did address it originally) is that people would vote without really being informed. That they would do it simply due to coercion and guilt.
Obviously I’ve got beef on the issue, I just took it out on you because Dan told me that you could handle it. Thanks for being open to “robust dialogue.”
haha anytime, always look forward to having a robust dialogue!