The Evil of Voting For the Lesser of Two Evils

You have probably heard it posited before (even by those who are well-meaning) that a legitimate use of your vote is to cast it for the lesser of two evils. However, is this counsel based on Biblical principles or is it based on worldly wisdom? In order to get the proper perspective on this issue, we must ask the same question that needs to be asked in any and every situation—namely “What saith the Scriptures?”

I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. (Psalm 101:3, 4)

As Christians, we are to be continually seeking to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. According to the above verses, our response to evil is to not set it before our eyes, to have a hatred for the deeds that result from it, and to keep those who have it in their hearts far from us. The last part of the verse summarizes how those who love God should view evil—we are to have NOTHING to do with it. As a consequence of this truth, we cannot succumb to the temptation of using our vote to support a candidate that is the lesser of the available evils. If there are no Biblically qualified candidates for the position on which we are voting, then we must not compromise principle and are bound to abstain from using our vote for any of the options that are before us. We will all have to give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ for our actions and if we vote for evil (even if we deem it to be the lesser of the evils under consideration), then we have gone against clear Biblical teaching. Please remember that voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil!