There is no objection to a Bahá'í being elected a Barrio
Captain or serving on a Barrio Council provided:
1. He is not required to become a member of a political
party.
2. Serve as a Barrio Captain or as a member of the Barrio
Council Captain does not involve him in partisan politics.
3. That he does not campaign for election of office. There
is no objection to allowing one's name to be placed in nomination if required by
law. If nominations are not obligatory and the voter is allowed to write on the
ballot paper and vote for the names of those he wishes to be elected, this
procedure should be followed by the Bahá'ís.
It would be preferable, of course, if the election of
members of a Barrio Council and Barrio Captains should be strictly in
accordance with Bahá'í principles. We would appreciate knowing whether this can
be done in... or whether it may be possible to amend the laws so that this
procedure can be adopted in villages where the population is entirely or
predominantly Bahá'ís.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated April 24, 1972 to the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Philippines, ; compilation:
‘Lights of Guidance’)