TWW-Christian Citizen Involvement

The Wired Word for the Week of November 20, 2024

Voter Turnout Down, Despite High Stakes Election

In the News

On November 5, voters across the country cast ballots that had the power to set the direction of the United States for years to come. Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump were competing fiercely for the White House, while other candidates fought for control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. There were many important state and local races as well.

As of November 11, Harris had received 71,247,178 popular votes, while Donald Trump had received 74,838,166 (these numbers continue to change as absentee ballots are counted). Trump was declared the victor with 312 electoral votes, over Harris' 226. The Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate, while the House had not yet been decided, although the Republicans were in the lead at the beginning of the week.

In spite of what many consider to be the high stakes of this election, voter turnout was down in many parts of the country. Trump won the presidency with a popular vote that was about 6 million lower than Joe Biden's 81 million popular votes in 2020. Biden's vice president (and fellow Democrat) Harris received about 10 million fewer popular votes than her colleague in the White House. Trump's popular vote total in 2024 seems to be very close to his total in 2020, when he lost to Biden (exact numbers for 2024 will be available when the counting is done).

So, what accounted for this drop in voter turnout? In Texas, the number of voters fell in the 2024 election despite record-setting registration numbers. 18.6 million Texans were registered to vote and 61% cast ballots, a nearly 6% drop from the 2020 presidential race. "This year's turnout drops were most dramatic in Texas' big blue counties," reported The Texas Tribune, where Democrats including Harris were expected to win comfortably. But Harris underperformed in those counties, surpassing Trump in one of them "by a modest 5 points, a steep drop from 2020, when President Joe Biden outperformed Trump by 13 points."

This trend was reflected in other parts of the country, where voting numbers plummeted for Democrats compared to 2020. Speaking to WTOP, John Aughenbaugh, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, said, "What really happened was a whole bunch of previous Democratic voters were upset with the Democratic Party." In addition, there were "a number of subpopulations that typically vote Democratic that decided to stay home. For instance, the turnout among Arab American populations in Michigan were not as great as they were in 2020.”

In 2020, more than 158 million people cast a ballot in the presidential election. That set a record for voter turnout, with about 66% of the eligible American population submitting a ballot. Although 2024 votes are still being counted, the total popular vote is now at 146 million people, and analysts believe that Democrats may be responsible for the lower number. Said Aughenbaugh, "Trump's popular vote numbers are actually pretty consistent with 2020. It's just a huge falloff for the Democratic candidate this year."

In Kansas City, the election board reported that just under 54% of registered voters went to the polls. According to The Kansas City Star, "Turnout in the part of Kansas City within Jackson County, which is served by the Kansas City Election Board, saw a voter turnout just under 54%. That's the lowest turnout for a presidential election since at least 1996."

The two Kansas City jurisdictions with the lowest turnout were the two most urban: Kansas City and Wyandotte County, which contains Kansas City, Kansas. Since these areas usually lean toward Democratic candidates, their low turnout was reflected in statewide results: Republicans retained control of Missouri's executive branch and also kept their supermajority in Kansas' state legislature. The states of Missouri and Kansas ended up being wins for Republican candidate Trump.

The University of Florida Election Lab estimates that turnout in 2024 will be about 62.3% of the voting-eligible population. CNN reports that this is down from the modern era high-water mark of approximately 66.4% in 2020, but still above other recent elections. Turnout in 1996 and 2000 was slightly over 50% of the eligible population.

Applying the News Story

Reflect on the duty-- if any -- we have as Christians to shape our government, and the importance of remaining engaged with our communities, our churches, our schools and our families. Discuss the various responsibilities of government, which might include to protect our religious freedom, provide for the common defense and offer a safety net for vulnerable people.

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Deuteronomy 1:13 (For context, read Deuteronomy 1:9-18.)

The book of Deuteronomy contains the final speech of Moses, in which he gives instructions to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. Moses recalls that he made an important discovery, "I am unable by myself to bear you" (v. 9). In particular, he found that he could not bear the heavy burden of the disputes of the people all by himself. So he had said to the people, "Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable, and I will make them your leaders."

The people did this, and Moses charged the judges of the people with the words, "Give the members of your community a fair hearing and judge rightly between one person and another, whether kin or resident alien. You must not be partial in judging" (vv. 16-17). The leaders and the judges of the people were to implement justice with wisdom and impartiality, and this justice was to be extended to both Israelites and resident aliens -- foreigners who lived among the people of Israel.

Questions: What qualities do you look for in a wise, discerning and reputable leader?

How does this influence your vote in an election?

Where do you find significance in the command of Moses to give equal justice to insiders and outsiders, Israelites and resident aliens? How can this be done today?

Psalm 146:3 (For context, read Psalm 146:1-10..)

Psalm 146 is a hymn of praise to God, our creator and redeemer. The psalm begins with an opening cheer, "Praise the LORD!" which in Hebrew is hallelujah (v. 1). The writer clearly puts God first in his life, and says that he is determined to "praise the LORD as long as I live" (v. 2).

Next, the writer offers some words of wisdom, "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help." This is not a rejection of human leaders, but instead a reminder that they are finite creatures: "When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish" (v. 4).

Better for us to put our trust in the one Lord God. Says the psalm-writer, "Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob ... who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; [who] sets the prisoners free" (vv. 5-7). Our ultimate faith should be placed in the God who creates us and redeems us.

Said TWW Team Member Henry Brinton to his congregation before the election, "Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump can provide a solid pillar for your life. Vote for the candidate who best represents your beliefs and your vision for our country, but do not allow either of them to become your counterfeit god. Tragically, for many people today -- Blue and Red, on the left and on the right -- politics has become a kind of religion. There is no human being, and no political party, that is worthy of your worship."

Questions: How would you define the proper attitude of citizens toward their political leaders?

What problems arise when people put too much trust in them?

Where do you see evidence that politics, for some, has become a kind of religion?

How can we take steps to reserve our worship for God, while offering appropriate support to our elected leaders?

What steps should government take to preserve religious freedom?

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (For context, read 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.)

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christ Assembly in Corinth, a city in Greece. There was an economic and social range in the Corinthian community, one that went from enslaved persons to men and women at the high end of the social spectrum. In the 10th chapter, Paul addresses the issue of whether it is appropriate to eat food that has been sacrificed to Greco-Roman gods.

"All things are permitted," he says, quoting the members of the community who believe that they are permitted to eat meat sacrificed to the pagan gods. Yes, that is correct, says Paul, but remember that "not all things are beneficial." In the same way, "'All things are permitted,' but not all things build up." Paul affirms that we have freedom to make personal choices, just as we can vote as we want in the United States. But we are to use our freedom in a way that is beneficial, that builds up, and that does not seek our own advantage "but that of the other."

Paul goes on to give members of the community the freedom to eat what is sold in the meat market and to dine with unbelievers, but he warns them not to act in ways that offend other believers. "So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God," he concludes. "I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage but that of many, so that they may be saved" (vv. 31, 33).

Questions: How is your vote shaped by a desire to benefit others and build up the community, if at all?

When, if ever, have you taken a political position that seeks the advantage "of many," rather than of yourself?

How would you define an appropriate social safety net for vulnerable people?

What happens to churches, communities, schools and families when people disengage and consider only their personal advantage?

Hebrews 11:24-25 (For context, read Hebrews 11:23-28.)

In chapter 11 of the letter to the Hebrews, stories are told of the great leaders of the Israelites. These accounts are given to strengthen the faith of the first followers of Jesus, many of whom came from Jewish backgrounds. One of the notable ancestors was Moses, who was both a religious and political leader of the Israelites, leading them through the Red Sea from captivity to freedom.

The writer makes clear that the parents of Moses engaged in civil disobedience when they hid him from the Egyptian Pharaoh, who had given the command for all Hebrew boys to be killed. When Moses grew up, he "refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." When Moses left Egypt, he had courage and was "unafraid of the king's anger, for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible" (v. 27). The faith of Moses enabled him to keep the Passover and protect the firstborn of the Israelites, as well as lead the people through the Red Sea.

Questions: What qualities do you look for in a leader?

Which means the most to you -- sharing the suffering of others, courage, perseverance, faith -- and why?

How do your Christian beliefs align, if at all, with the qualities of the person who receives your vote?

What is the value of a leader like Moses, who protected his people and led them to freedom?

How should our leaders and government provide for the common defense, in the face of threats?

The Big Questions

1. Did you vote in the 2024 election? Why or why not?

2. What difference does your vote make, if any? Who or what encourages you to vote? Who or what discourages you from casting a ballot?

3. How does your Christian faith motivate you to shape the government? When has this involvement been a positive experience, and when has it been negative?

4. When, if ever, have you disengaged from your community, your church, your school or your family? What was the result?

5. Governments can protect religious freedom, provide for the common defense and offer a safety net for vulnerable people. Which of these functions is important to you, and why? What would you like to change about the government, and how do you plan to pursue this?

For Further Discussion

1. Reflecting on low voter turnout, TWW Team Member Mary Sells wonders, "Are most people self-satisfied that others can 'do the work,' politically or in churches? Are people despaired of their efforts making any difference? Are people simply too tired from their daily lives to engage in other matters?" Discuss.

2. From an early analysis of voting turnout numbers, it appears that Kamala Harris lost support to a much greater degree than Donald Trump gained support. How does this change your understanding of the election, if at all? What does this say to you about the significance of casting a ballot?

3. TWW Consultant James Gruetzner reports that in talking with people as to why they do not vote, some of the recurring answers he hears are: "My vote won't make a difference, either due to its insignificance or to significant voting fraud ... There's no difference between the candidates/parties (or not enough to matter) ... I don't care about politics." If you have ever heard such sentiments, how have you responded? When people say "I don't care about politics," Gruetzner tells them, "You may not care about politics, but politics cares about you." It is certainly true that politics has an impact on us all, whether positive or negative. What impact of politics have you felt, and how have you responded?

4. On November 6, 1860, Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln won a tight race for president. Erik Larson, in his book The Demon of Unrest, tells the story of how the country was at odds: "Southern extremists were moving ever closer to destroying the Union, with one state after another seceding and Lincoln powerless to stop them. Slavery fueled the conflict, but somehow the passions of North and South came to focus on a lonely federal fortress in Charleston Harbor: Fort Sumter." The book describes the chaotic months between Lincoln's election and the Confederacy's shelling of Sumter -- "a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, enflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals." What steps can members of the Christian community take to bring people together following the election of 2024? What can you do, as an individual, to work for unity in your family, church and neighborhood?

Responding to the News

Reach out to a neighbor of a different political party and ask how they are doing following the election. Volunteer for an activity that benefits your neighborhood or church. Take a deep breath after this contentious election season, and begin to think of ways that your voting in the future can benefit others and build up the community, following the counsel of the apostle Paul.

Prayer

Help us, Lord, not to disengage from the larger community, but to vote and act in ways that benefit all people. May the examples of Moses, Paul and other leaders of the faith continue to inspire us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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