Is it prudent for new faculty to abstain from voting in a job search if the rest of department faculty is highly divided? There is a job search in my department. The department is extremely divided on the candidates. As new faculty, should I abstain from voting? Is this a prudent choice?
It could be. It could also be a disastrous move. There is no way an outsider can judge just how messy your department is. Your best bet is to find someone in your department that you trust and ask them. I personally think jut abstaining for a hiring vote is a little weird. If you go down the abstain route, you may be best off abstaining from all votes.

The STFU strategy can work, but in really divided departments, at some point before tenure review you are going to have to take sides.