"In the intervening years customs and habits have changed. Opportunities for recreation have increased. Our entire mode of life has been recast through invention, the great growth of our cities, and for other reasons. Undoubtedly, this has been responsible in no small measure for the widespread disregard on the part of so many of our citizens of the privilege and duty of voting…If the people fail to vote, a government will be developed that is not their government…The whole system of American Government rests on the ballot box. Unless citizens perform their duties there, such a system of government is doomed to failure.” Calvin Coolidge
Voting is a means of giving internal Christian self-government and conscience external expression. By definition, a vote is "the expression of a wish, desire, will, preference or choice in regard to any measure proposed, in which the person voting has an interest in common with others, either in electing a man to office, or in passing laws, rules, regulations, and the like…” (Webster's 1828 Dictionary). Students of the Principle Approach® understand that these elements of internal property: wishes, desires, will, preferences, choices, are to be vassals to reason ruled by and wholly obedient to God (see Grotius quote, T&L, p. 119).
It is easy for us to perform the action of voting at the ballot box and even to exhort others to do likewise. However, failure to vote isn't just neglecting to register, finding excuse not to stand in line at the precinct on Election Day, or not pushing a button or coloring a bubble once behind the veil. Failing to vote is failing to have our reason ruled by and wholly obedient to God regarding His principles of government and then seeing to it that these are upheld in our personal lives and in the civil spheres through our voting duty (or even perhaps seeking to serve in public office).
Failing to vote in this sense has been a chronic condition of much of the citizenry for many generations. Christians are especially at fault as we have the capacity through the indwelling Spirit to have reason ruled by God*. Therefore, as Coolidge predicted, a government has developed that is not of the people, by the people, and for the people—a Christian constitutional republic—our interest in common.
Don't wait until November 6, 2012; VOTE TODAY! Begin researching, reasoning, relating, and recording the principles you need to know and hold inviolate as you vet the candidates and examine the initiatives and referenda up for election and teach your children, students and others through this important process.
* Note definition #4 of 'vote', "United voice in public prayer,” and consider the crucial role Christians must play, first and foremost in prayer.