Don’t steal votes?
You shall not steal surely applies to votes and to elections!
The remedy proposed is: require voter ID; use only paper ballots; have all voting on the one day.
Does God expect elections to be honest?
God was the one who said, you shall not steal (Exodus 20:15).
Jesus endorsed the ancient code:
You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:19 NIV).
Or the Apostle Paul: If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need (Ephesians 4:28 NLT).
Do you think it clear that elections should and must be honest? Be lawful? Do you pray that it be so?
Here I discuss from my Australian perspective and with my background in conducting elections (Returning Officer and Polling Official). I do not claim to know all about other places, even places of greater wealth and with so much more powerful forces!
First: Our elections are governed by law. The law is made (ie new, or by amendment) by our parliaments. The members vote! Our parliamentarians are really secure in their jobs until next election, like it or not (I don’t).
Second: A major factor in conducting an election is that the result (the return) has to be able to withstand question in court. The court of law. That is, the laws can be used to judge if an election is faked or tainted by irregularities. The legislation must be fulfilled to at least the level of certainty. (Absolute perfection is not possible!)
Our Acts of Parliament are supplemented by Regulations, which also emanate via the Parliament.
Voter ID could be mandated (and may be used in QLD?). The data say it would make little difference. That is, the number of fake voters is tiny, a minuscule proportion of total formal votes.
Demanding voter ID would inevitably require turning electors away, or delayed count voting by the use of Provisional (envelope) votes.
There was a sad, interesting and unique Victorian 2020 fake votes instance in Merri-Bek (then Moreland) Council North West Ward. Large numbers of postal ballots went "missing" but were received for counting! The issue was settled to the satisfaction of the court, without full public cross examination. The person who gained by the fake votes resigned before being pushed, and paid a hefty fine. (The Victorian Electoral Commission website has information.)
We use paper ballots. From time to time there are allegations of erased ballot papers being altered by officials. (Nonsense - see below*.) For sure our paid officials have discussed electronic voting and some limited use has been risked, I believe. They were special cases.
Voting (casting ballots) now extends over several days. Voting by post has long been available. This is our law. It would be possible of course for Parliaments to mandate every elector attend on one day. That would inevitably disenfranchise some electors. Some electors would have to lose pay to be free to vote. The trend over recent decades has been to make participation easier for electors. Too easy?
*Our system is strong. We depend on the capability and reliability of our paid officials. More than that, the entire poll is open to scrutineers. These are people (volunteers) who are there to observe in real time on behalf of “their” candidate. Each wants their own side to win and will question any indication of incorrect procedure or failure in accountability. The validly adversarial nature of scrutineer interest gives us independent assurance of election integrity.
There are laws, there are police and there are courts.
The voters decide. The voters may be deceived by false propaganda, but they decide. The voters put the people in the parliament to make the laws.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT).
We are indebted to all who are willing to nominate.
By definition, all elections produce winners and losers. But, there should not be thieves!
In my experience, many, many (most?) voters just want to quickly make a definite simple choice and be done with it!
A 2024 Victorian aside:
The Victorian Parliament is inquiring into changes to their Upper House (Legislative Council) elections, and to the structure of the LC electorate. Their existing ballot system allows candidates opportunity to divert votes to people the voter did not want. (“Above the line” votes hand over all control on preferences to the candidate deals.) I hope that Parliament can take power from the candidates and give it to the voters. It will depend on what legislation (if any) is passed. There is a current public inquiry, closing 5 Feb 25.
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/electoralsysteminquiry
