BBC. Election 2015: Who are the thousands who will not vote?
Millions of people will head to polling stations across the country on Thursday to mark their chosen box with that all-important cross. But who are the people who will not vote?
Don't vote
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses are among those who do not vote based on their religious beliefs
There are about 140,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in the UK who will choose not to vote on 7 May.
Mark O'Malley, a spokesman for the Christian-based religious movement, said: "As you go through the bible we see that God's kingdom is already established in heaven with God as the king of that kingdom.
"We are politically neutral as, in a sense, we have already chosen to support that kingdom's government. We see it as a real government.
"There are limitations to what governments can do, maybe they can improve the health system, but they can't prevent death, maybe they can help children, but they can't provide a secure future for them necessarily. Only God's government is going to be able to resolve completely the real, deeper issues."
Despite their choice to opt out of voting, Mr O'Malley said Jehovah's Witnesses were "model citizens", living their lives by principles set out in the bible which states "authorities that exist have been established by God" and to rebel against them is to rebel "against what God has instituted".
He said: "We take the Bible principle at Romans chapter 13 which tells us to support the superior authority.
"The bible highlights respect for government, respect of authority, respect for civil laws so you will see Jehovah's Witnesses are model citizens when it comes to paying taxes and working within the laws created by government because that's something that is engendered in the pages of the bible."
Similarly, Christadelphians choose not to vote, saying: "[Leaders] will come and go. But there will be no lasting peace or happiness for the world until the reign of Jesus, the ideal leader, chosen and prepared by God."
The Royal family
Royals are not banned from voting but it is considered "unconstitutional" for them to do so
According to the official website of the British Monarchy the Queen and her family "never vote or stand for election to any position, political or otherwise".
It says that although the law does not ban royalty from voting it is "considered unconstitutional for the Sovereign and his or her heir to do so".
"As Head of State, The Queen must remain politically neutral, since her government will be formed from whichever party can command a majority in the House of Commons.
"The Queen herself is part of the legislature and technically she cannot therefore vote for members of another part of the legislature."
No comments:
Post a Comment