With Father’s Day coming up, I’m feeling grateful for all of you who’ve been faithful fathers to generations of Americans. There are certain lessons a child never forgets—not because they were preached from a pulpit or taught in a classroom, but because they’re modeled by good fathers in everyday life.

As primary elections are taking place nationwide, I want to encourage fathers, grandfathers, and father figures across the country to share something with the young people you love about the importance of voting. You could even send them a text with these results from the 2026 Texas Republican Primaries:

• Two-thirds of the most conservative candidates advanced to the general election.
• Three-fourths of candidates iVoterGuide rated as moderate or liberal lost their primary races.

Whether your kids consider themselves conservative voters or not, these stats could encourage young people of all political views to show up at the polls!

Even better? Make plans to take a child you love along to the voting booth this election season. This may seem unremarkable because voting rarely feels dramatic. It occurs on a regular day—maybe an earlier Tuesday morning than usual or a Saturday afternoon during early voting. Voting also takes place in the most ordinary places—a library, school cafeteria, or church. There’s no applause or accolades (though young children will enjoy nabbing your “I Voted” sticker). But this moment could hold for the child a lesson for a lifetime. 

Young people watch what their fathers prioritize. They see you save money for important purchases. They know how you spend your Saturdays. When a godly man makes the time to rearrange his busy schedule, waits in line, and shares his thoughts about a candidate, you model the responsibility and privilege of citizenship. You also show that rights must be faithfully exercised, and small actions secure freedom.

For Christian men, the act holds even deeper meaning. Scripture calls believers to seek peace and prosperity for the places God plants us (Jeremiah 29:7). Bible stories show how imperfect governments and leaders exist within God’s sovereign plan. More than a political act, voting demonstrates faith and stewardship.

A child in your sphere of influence may not grasp the impact in the moment, but you’re planting seeds for a lifetime. Perhaps the child watches over your shoulder as you study a sample ballot on your laptop. Your careful reflection communicates silently that voting is not careless. On the drive to the polls, perhaps you pray aloud with your child for discernment and humility. In a world full of loud and chaotic voices, quiet deliberation and small acts of faith can make an indelible mark on children and youth.

Your reaction to the vote also teaches the way of a Constitutional Republic and faith in God. A man who accepts the outcome without despair or gloating teaches a child the deeper lesson: Hope does not rest in a party or platform, but in Christ Jesus alone.

Thoughtful conversations about these events can lead to important teachable moments. Because of imperfect candidates, you can talk about how all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Because of imperfect government systems, you can explain the meaning of a republic, how it compares to other forms of government, and how vigilant citizens help a nation flourish. Most importantly, a Christian voter teaches young people around him that nothing but Jesus saves. 

The memory of seeing a father or a beloved father figure cast his vote may even become a guidepost down the road. When skepticism takes hold or one begins to wonder if civic duty is worth the time and energy, perhaps the young person will recall this simple act of obedience—how you showed up to pray, reflect on candidates, and cast your vote.

In the end, a vote cast by an influential man in a child’s life models far more than an act of citizenship. For the young person watching, this quiet exercise can be an important lesson in faith.