Voting in a democratic election
Q: Can mufti saheb provide guidance on the following two questions regarding taking part in democratic elections:
1. Is voting in a democratic election regarded as a religious obligation (such as Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy anil Munkar), and is it correct to cite Surah Ali imran (3:110) as a proof for the permissibility or necessity of voting?
2. From a Fiqhi perspective, is a vote regarded as a form of shahadah (testimony) where the voter bears witness before Allah Ta'ala regarding the candidate's character and eligibility of leadership?