How Bahá'í Voters Should Vote
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The Journal of Bahá'í Studies 18 1-4, 77-94Abstract: Two widespread misconceptions among Baha'is are that, according to Shoghi Effendi, (a) Baha'i voters should not discuss how they should vote prior to Baha'i elections and (b) the only relevant criteria for voting are the qualifications of the individuals voted for. Shoghi Effendi in fact suggests that Baha'i voters should discuss the criteria for voting, but without reference to particular individuals. Moreover, he provides four different types of criteria that voters should consider: criteria concerning (1) the qualifications of individual Assembly members, (2) the collective makeup of the Assembly as a whole, (3) changes in the individual makeup of the Assembly, and (4) changes in the collective makeup of the Assembly over time.
Two widespread misconceptions among Baha'is are that, according to Shoghi Effendi, (a) Baha'i voters should not discuss how they should vote prior to Baha'i elections and (b) the only relevant criteria for voting are the qualifications of the individuals voted for. Shoghi Effendi in fact suggests that Baha'i voters should discuss the criteria for voting, but without reference to particular individuals. Moreover, he provides four different types of criteria that voters should consider: criteria concerning (1) the qualifications of individual Assembly members, (2) the collective makeup of the Assembly as a whole, (3) changes in the individual makeup of the Assembly, and (4) changes in the collective makeup of the Assembly over time.