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EXTRACTS FROM THE BAHÁ’Í WRITINGS
ON THE SPIRITUAL NATURE OF BAHÁ’Í ELECTIONS
| One of the nine Holy Days on which Bahá'ís are expected not to work is the First Day of Ridván, observed on April
21 of each year. This is the anniversary of the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh, on April 21, 1863, the day on which He declared His Mission
to humanity.
On this day, Bahá'í communities around the world elect their local governing bodies, the Local Spiritual Assembly,
by the electoral method laid down by Bahá'u'lláh.
Following a framework set down by Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í communities conduct their business through a distinctive system of freely elected
governing councils that challenge commonly accepted ideas about the inherent limitations of democracy.
The local Assembly
At its foundation, the Bahá'í administrative order rests on the local Spiritual Assembly, a community governing council elected each year in
every community where there are nine or more adult Bahá'ís. It is worth describing in some detail the operation of the local Spiritual
Assembly, as many of its features are reflected at the national and international levels.
Typically, the reach of the local Spiritual Assembly is defined by the municipal boundaries established by the
government. In other words, all Bahá'ís who live within the boundaries of a particular village, town, city, or governing district are
considered to be within the jurisdiction of the local Spiritual Assembly of that locality.
The local Spiritual Assembly is elected each year by secret ballot. In April, all adult Bahá'ís in the given
community gather for an election. Those who cannot personally attend are encouraged to submit absentee ballots. After a period of prayer
and meditation, each adult then writes down nine names: the names of those nine individuals that he or she feels are best qualified to
administer the affairs of the community.
The qualities such individuals should possess are spelled out quite clearly in the Bahá'í writings. Those participating in the election
should consider "the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion,
of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience."
Perhaps the most surprising aspect to this process is the absence of a prepared ballot or of any system of nominations. Instead, every adult
Bahá'í in the community is eligible for election to the local Spiritual Assembly.
Those elected to the Assembly need not receive a majority of votes; rather, the nine individuals who receive the highest number of votes are
selected. Since everyone in the community is, in essence, up for election, individual voters have the opportunity to vote according to
their conscience with an absolute freedom of choice. Accordingly, individuals with a recognized maturity, experience and humility tend
to be elected--instead of simply those who might be bold or egotistical enough to run for office.
Although this system defies political convention, it is surprisingly effective in practice. The whole emphasis of the Bahá'í electoral system
is to bring forth leaders who possess qualities of selflessness, intellectual capacity and wisdom.
A similar method of election is used for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, in which delegates to a national Convention are
elected by Bahá'í communities across the whole country, and these delegates gather in a national Convention to elect the members of the
National Spiritual Assembly from among the entire body of the Bahá'ís, using the same principles as for the election of local Spiritual
Assemblies. |
Fostering a Spiritual Attitude towards Elections
On the election day the friends must whole-heartedly participate in the elections, in unity and amity, turning their hearts to God, detached from
all things but Him, seeking His guidance and supplicating His aid and bounty.
(Letter from Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of the East, 27 February 1923 — translated from the Persian)
The aim should always be so to educate the friends during the year that they consider their participation in Bahá’í elections not only as a right
they exercise, but as a spiritual obligation which, when discharged in the proper Bahá’í spirit, contributes to the health and growth of the Bahá’í
community.
(Memorandum from the Universal House of Justice to the International Teaching Centre, 18 June 1980)
Participation in Elections
These Local Spiritual Assemblies will have to be elected directly by the friends, and every declared believer of 21 years and above, far from
standing aloof and assuming an indifferent or independent attitude, should regard it his sacred duty to take part, conscientiously and diligently,
in the election, the consolidation, and the efficient working of his own Local Assembly.
(Letter from Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of the West, Japan and Australasia, 12 March 1923 — Bahá’í Administration, p. 39)
I feel I must affirm the vital importance and necessity of the right of voting — a sacred responsibility of which no adult recognized believer
should be deprived …
(Appended to a letter, in the handwriting of Shoghi Effendi, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, 28 April 1925 —
Messages to America: Selected Letters and Cablegrams Addressed to the Bahá’ís of North America 1932-1946, pp. 3-4)
Sacred Trust and Responsibility of Bahá’í Voters
To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all of his
fellow-believers, to keep in touch with local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly
participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and Assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can
develop a true social consciousness, and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Bahá’í community
life thus makes it a duty for every loyal land faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him
the opportunity of raising himself to such a station.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 4 February 1935)
…the elector… is called upon to vote for none but those whom prayer and reflection have inspired him to uphold.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, 27 May 1927)
… in the time of election, the friends should be in the mood of prayer, disinterestedness and detachment from worldly motives. Then they will be
inspired to elect the proper members to the assemblies.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 7 June 1924)
The electors … must prayerfully and devotedly and after meditation and reflection elect faithful, sincere, experienced, capable and competent souls
who are worthy of membership…
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia, 1 July 1943 — translated from the Persian)
Results of the Elections
Once Assembly elections are over, the result should be conscientiously and unquestionably accepted by the entire body of the believers, not
necessarily because they represent the voice of truth or the will of Bahá’u’lláh, but for the supreme purpose of maintaining unity and harmony in
the Community.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 10 July 1939)
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