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Doctrine changes · Claim record

On 1 November 1999 The Watchtower stated that whether a Witness personally votes for a candidate is a decision made on his Bible-trained conscience, and that what a Witness does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator.

Claim ID claim-doctrine-voting-1999-conscienceConcerns 1 November 1999Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 1 November 1999 Verified

On 1 November 1999 The Watchtower stated that whether a Witness personally votes for a candidate is a decision made on his Bible-trained conscience, and that what a Witness does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator. The Watchtower, 1 November 1999“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”, 2008

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The answer does not describe itself as a change; it lists five reasons why ‘in many lands Jehovah’s Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote’.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Questions From Readers”

1 November 1999 · pp.28-29 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State.”

The answer sets out five factors a Witness should weigh, says that ‘in many lands Jehovah’s Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote’, and adds that if someone decides to go to the polling booth ‘what he does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator’. It also says that a Christian woman whose unbelieving husband insists she present herself to vote should not be criticised.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Document opened on the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026 and read in full; the quoted sentence sits after the page 28 marker.

Notes. The answer does not describe itself as a change and makes no reference to any earlier ruling other than the 1950 article it quotes.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-chg-p-w-1999-1101-qfr-voting

Primary JW publication Verified

“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”, “Flag Salute, Voting, and Civilian Service”

2008 · p.213 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Remembering that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went as far as the plain of Dura, a Christian, under similar circumstances, may decide to go to the booth if his conscience permits.”

The appendix restates the 1999 position for readers of the study book, lists six principles to weigh, and says Witnesses ‘remain resolutely neutral with regard to the political affairs of the nations’.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Appendix opened on the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026. The voting section begins before the page 214 marker, so the quoted words are on page 213; the appendix runs pp. 212-215.

Notes. Shows how the 1999 answer was carried into the study literature.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-chg-p-lv-2008-appendix-voting

Claim page

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