R can only stab when if elected. While D holds office, R may get to keep his knife but actually stabbing is a felony. Once R is in office, it is perfectly legal for him to stab and he can thus do much more stubbing. He also gets to direct federal funding toward stabbing.
Voting is what keeps R away out of office. Voting prevents stabbing.
These are some very complicated concepts, so let me draw you a diagram:
