How do the Jehovah's Witness reconcile that they do not vote? When Romans 13:1-7 (and 1 Peter 2:13-17) seem to indicate we should?

### Bible verses in question Bible translation accepted by my church: NKJV (for the New Testament) Romans 13:1-7 NKJV >**1** Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. **For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God**. **2** Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will [a]bring judgment on themselves. **3** For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. **4** For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. **5** **Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.** **6** For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. **7** Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 1 Peter 2:13-17, NKJV > **13** Therefore **submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake**, whether to the king as supreme, **14** or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. **15** For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— **16** as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. **17** Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. To show that I'm not being unfair, and trying to be unbiased here is the New World Translation of Romans 13 which the Jehovah's Witnesses recognize. Romans 13:1-7 >**1** Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for **there is no authority except by God the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God**. **2**  Therefore, whoever opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves. **3** For those rulers are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you want to be free of fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; **4**  for it is God’s minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear, for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword. It is God’s minister, an avenger to express wrath against the one practicing what is bad. **5** **There is therefore compelling reason for you to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of your conscience.** **6** That is why you are also paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants constantly serving this very purpose. **7** Render to all their dues: to the one who calls for the tax, the tax; to the one who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to the one who calls for fear, such fear; to the one who calls for honor, such honor. To my understanding, Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in government at all. Wouldn't participating in representative democracy be part of being in subjection to the superior authority on account of your conscience? Participating: **As in voting!**. You can supply additional comments about running for office or being in a governmental position, but I'm only interested in the voting aspect as it applies to the majority of people. *Answers not presenting the perspective of the Jehovah's Witness will be rejected.*