Ethical Considerations for Christians Navigating Political Elections

In a recent reflection on the ethics of voting, the author addresses the dilemma faced by pro-life Christians when presented with candidates who may not align perfectly with their values. Drawing on the principle of practical reason—to seek good and avoid evil—the author argues that voters have a moral obligation to weigh feasible alternatives to promote the common good or prevent the greatest harm. This approach, often described as choosing the "lesser of two evils," is presented as a reasonable and morally justified strategy when faced with limited political choices.

To support this perspective, the author cites the historical example of Abraham Lincoln and the 2016 presidential election, noting that many voters supported Donald Trump only after he became the primary alternative to Hillary Clinton. The author outlines four realities that complicate the voting process: limited choices within the political system, the challenge of incomplete or false information, the necessity of evaluating candidates across multiple issues, and the difficulty of determining which outcome will produce the greatest good. Ultimately, the author suggests that voters may find clarity by shifting their focus from identifying the "best" candidate to determining which option is the least harmful.