The answer is a complex blend of many pieces of advice that we've been given on electing people to public office. I have below select quotes from various sources.  But to come to my conclusion, it was necessary to go through all these sources in their entirety.  I'd recommend them as good reading to anyone interested in proper guidance on elections (especially the entire speech by Elder Oaks). We're told we need to participate.  Then we're told to vote for honest, good, and wise lead