Those who voted YES had this to say:
• Because its not written in the bible. Plus this is the silliest poll I have ever seen. Which person would opine yes like me.
• If the question proxy by one person it is morally and legally not correct to indulge. The question needs to more specific. I am confused with your question. Proxy voting is extended to the military as well as to the diplomats of the Indian officials in the globe. I am not contesting your esteems question but be more specific.
• If former church Deacons and bring in his supporters to proxy vote for him in the last election, it must be right! Na!?
Those who voted NO had this to say:
• Would Christ have done that?
• We cant be only Sunday Christian!!!!!
• It is not only Christian but any person whether Naga or anywhere for that matter doesn't have any right to proxy vote unless a person is endorsed to vote for him or her. Christian should walk along side our faith, meaning to act in what we believe it to be morally and ethically accountable. One of the commandments is the sin of lying. I believe proxy is lying and cheating. Let a person decide for his her own and not for others. If he/she vote for in others name he/she is in violation of another person dignity and commit robbery. Let everyone vote only for his or her own rights of vote.
• We are yet to receive the Gospel of Sanctification. We claim to have been saved (having baptised and received Jesus as our Lord), but how about holy living?
• It not right for anyone, whether Christian or not to indulge in Proxy voting. But Nagas are intoxicated with election and the power that comes with it. It is difficult to see how proxy voting in Nagaland can be stopped. But other than sermons, what is the Naga Church doing about proxy voting, nothing.
• No, being a good Christian one should not indulge in proxy voting.
• Though layman, Its not right to indulge in proxy voting of any elections - is what the Church leaders always speaks but hardly practiced by most Christians.
• I want to quote Col 2:6 which reads "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, not after Christ." Proxy is something man-made. Hence, this is not right.
• It is just wrong! No reasoning can make it right!
• There can’t be any greater sin as such act (from Political and Religious perspective) Such acts should be abased and discouraged by every right thinking citizens. It can also be termed as a serious crime, as it is against the sane of any intellectual being.
• Whether Christians or non-Christians, it is wrong and it is a crime. But sadly, Naga Christians have lost their testimony.
• Proxy is other name for cheating....and why should Christian cheat?
• It's not only spiritually a sin, but morally, ethically, and constitutionally wrong.
• It is simply wrong morally and legally let alone spiritually.
• No, No, No… 1. It is not right for Naga Christians to indulge in proxy voting at any time. 2. It is not right for Naga Christians to kill in the Name of Christ. 3. It is not right for Naga Christians to abuse the slogan "Nagaland for Christ." 4. It is not right for any factions to abuse the name of Christ to terrorize and enslave the general public with their doctrine. 5. It is not right for Naga Christians to be silent spectators to let any faction continue the reign of terrorism. 6. It is not right for Naga Christians not to raise their voice when their humanhood, Human Rights are denied and violated by the different factional groups collecting 25% of every citizens hard-work's salary in order to build their own palaces. 7. It is not right for Naga Christian to extort 25 % from the general public because even God requires only 10% of the earnings.
• 1. Proxy itself is an act of injustice. 2. Proxy is corruption. 3. Proxy denies fair election. 4. Proxy is violent.
• Maintain individual right to vote, integrity, and is against the principle of equal justice and fairness. Once this type is done, it became a trend. Why start wrong trends, which afterwards will be uncontrollable.
• Proxy voting is not ethical. A lie is a lie no matter how big or small a lie is. Likewise proxy voting is cheating on democracy and it cannot be justified. As Christians we need to know that Christ did not justify a 'wrong' as 'right.' Ethically a white lie is also a lie and cannot be proved true. Thus, proxy voting is lying to ourselves and cheating to our future.
• No, it is not right but we do it anyway because we are greedy, corrupt and have no morals.
Those who voted Others had this to say:
• It is not right for Christians and non-Christians alike. Unfortunately it has become a part of our democracy and ironically proxy voting kills democracy itself.
• It is wrong. Simple.
• When there is no distinction between religion and state, what do we expect? Even the Churches are deeply involved in politics. How many Churches received large sums of offering from corrupt politicians? Lets accept it, Church leaders also have their preferences for political parties and are as involved in politics.
• Proxy voting is acceptable if the concern person authorized someone else to vote for him/her and of course if the law allows it.
• We must be truthful. We are Christian and God does not teach us to lie.
• It is not about religion vis-a-vis elections. State and religion are two distinct aspects. Unfortunately, even in Nagaland, there tends to be a mix of politics and religion seemingly religion taking the upper hand. The risk factor is, what happens if religion takes over the full aspects of our daily lives? An individual has a right to do what he likes with the exception that his liberty should not encroach upon others' rights. Agreed, the same logic applies to issue at hand - elections. Proxy voting deprives someone else privilege to cast his/her vote. Another instance of proxy is that it undermines the democratic process of electing representatives. However, to say that a Christian should not indulge in proxy is tantamount to implying proxy is the domain of other religions. In a sense, Christian regards proxy as another sin and that other religions do not. The paradox is "holier than thou" attitude as against the Christian tenet of equality. We Nagas tend to take our religion too narrowly. On the contrary, at least to me, Christianity is liberal in itself and that is something I like being a Christian. Liberal in a sense that it does not bind me in totality as to what I should drink, eat, wear and do certain things. I may not go to Church regularly or not at all. I may not pray that often or partake in all church activities or never. Still what counts is how you conduct your life on a day to day basis - good deeds. Yes, proxy is wrong but not necessarily from Christianity point of view alone but penetrating across religions and any person of integrity will say so. Thus, not all of the issues need to invoke religious tenets. Human beings have enough intelligence and rationality to differentiate between good and bad. We Nagas need to learn not to wear our religion on our sleeves.
