A Trinidad and Tobago man who grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness household and has never voted in an election is calling on the religious organisation to reconsider its position on political participation, raising questions about whether thousands of previously abstaining citizens could influence future election results.
Speaking in a video shared on Facebook by Ramblestv, the concerned citizen said he intends to vote in the next general election, despite having spent his entire life avoiding political participation because of his religious upbringing.
His appeal follows a September 2026 announcement by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses allowing members to decide for themselves whether to accept certain blood components during medical treatment.
“Since you all have demonstrated that there is some leeway in rules, you all now need to look at voting and open up that avenue as well,” he said.
The man explained that although he no longer attends Kingdom Hall meetings, assemblies or conventions, the practice of abstaining from voting remained with him.
However, he said growing concerns about governance and conditions affecting his community have changed his position.
“I am voting next election,” he declared.
He accused the Government of political discrimination, alleging that communities perceived as supporting particular political parties were being unfairly treated. He also described the administration as corrupt and racist, claims which represent his personal assessment.
Turning his attention to Diego Martin, he complained about deteriorating infrastructure, including repeated water line bursts and poor road conditions along St. Lucian Road.
He alleged that motorists were being forced onto pavements to avoid potholes and described an incident in which a parked vehicle reportedly suffered two flat tyres. Could Jehovah’s Witness Votes Influence an Election?
Beyond the man’s personal decision, his appeal raises an interesting question about the potential electoral impact if Jehovah’s Witnesses were permitted to make individual decisions about voting.
According to the organisation’s 2025 Service Year Report, Trinidad and Tobago recorded a peak of 10,576 active Jehovah’s Witness publishers across 127 congregations.
While that number does not represent 10,576 eligible voters, since it includes people below voting age and does not establish voter registration status, it offers some perspective on the size of the religious community.
The figure is equivalent to approximately 1.7 per cent of the 622,181 ballots cast in Trinidad and Tobago’s 2025 general election, although it should not be interpreted as a projection of additional votes.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission’s preliminary results from that election demonstrate how relatively small voting differences can influence parliamentary representation.
In Malabar/Mausica, the People’s National Movement received 7,690 votes against the United National Congress’s 7,428, a difference of just 262 votes.
In Arima, the PNM secured 7,055 votes compared with the UNC’s 6,356, a margin of 699 votes.
Meanwhile, in Diego Martin Central, where the concerned citizen has raised issues affecting the wider community, the PNM received 7,409 votes against the UNC’s 4,600, a difference of 2,809 votes.
These results demonstrate that additional participation by even several hundred voters could be significant in a closely contested constituency, depending on how those individuals distribute their votes.
With Trinidad and Tobago’s parliamentary elections decided constituency by constituency, changes in participation could affect individual seats. In a future election where the parliamentary balance is particularly close, a small number of seats could ultimately influence which party forms the Government.
However, there is no evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses would vote collectively, favour any particular party or participate at the same rate as other voters if their organisation changed its position.
Their geographic distribution, eligibility and individual political preferences would all influence any electoral impact. Religious Neutrality Remains the Official Position
Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain that their political neutrality is based on biblical teachings and that members should not support political parties or candidates.
The organisation also states that it respects the rights of other people to vote and does not interfere with elections.
Its September 18, 2026 announcement concerning blood components permits members to make individual decisions about accepting red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. The restriction on whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged.
That medical policy adjustment does not itself signal any planned change concerning political neutrality.
Nevertheless, the concerned citizen believes it demonstrates that the organisation can reconsider longstanding practices.
He stressed that he was not instructing anyone which political party or candidate to support. Instead, he wants Jehovah’s Witnesses to consider making voting a personal decision.
He said he intends to seek discussions with elders from congregations in Diego Martin, St. James, Maraval and Polski.
Should those discussions fail to produce a favourable response, he indicated that he would take his concerns directly to younger members of the congregations.
The wider question raised by his appeal is whether a change in religious guidance could encourage greater political participation among citizens who have traditionally remained outside the electoral process.
For the man at the centre of the discussion, however, the decision is already made.
“I don’t care at this point,” he said. “I have already made up my mind.” Anchor Script
A concerned citizen who grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness household is calling on the religious organisation to reconsider its position on voting, raising questions about the potential impact on future elections.
The man, featured in a video shared by Ramblestv, says he has never voted but intends to cast his first ballot at the next general election.
His appeal follows the organisation’s recent decision to allow members to make personal choices concerning certain blood components.
But could a similar adjustment to voting rules influence Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape?
Jehovah’s Witnesses reported approximately 10,576 active publishers in the country in 2025.
Although not all would be eligible or choose to vote, the figure is notable when compared with recent election results.
In 2025, the Malabar/Mausica constituency was decided by just 262 votes, while Arima recorded a margin of 699.
Additional voters could therefore influence closely contested constituencies, although their political preferences remain unknown.
The concerned citizen also criticised deteriorating roads and repeated water line bursts in Diego Martin.
Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to maintain political neutrality, and no voting policy change has been announced.
The discussion also raises wider questions about electoral participation among Trinidad and Tobago’s different ethnic and religious communities, including Afro-Trinidadians, Rastafarians and Jehovah’s Witnesses. While there is no reliable recent evidence that most Afro-Trinidadians abstain from voting, the wider pool of non-voters represents a potentially significant electoral force. In the 2025 general election, approximately 531,695 registered electors did not cast a ballot, representing 46 per cent of the electorate. That figure is substantial when compared with the 622,181 people who voted nationwide. If even a portion of those who traditionally stay away from the polls were to participate, their collective involvement could reshape the results in several constituencies and potentially determine which political party forms the next government. However, there is no evidence that these non-voters belong predominantly to any particular ethnic or religious group, or that they would support the same political party.
Article and image source: facebook.com