Is Voting Third Party Throwing Away Your Vote?

[Carjosse]

I'd consider that more of an issue with education and the media than anything. If people weren't so dumb, the scare tactics wouldn't work.

I have to disagree, it happens in every country regardless of education.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

This what I mean. They don't understand you have to build momentum.

It is generational work and third parties in America are too lazy to undertake it.
Yes, that applies to ALL American third parties because the paucity of third party power in state and congressional seats is evidence of that fact.

When I start seeing state lawmakers and people in Congress who are Greens, Libertarians, socialists, or whatever, then I'll start taking American third parties seriously.
But as long as they continue to do as they do now, for me, all third party candidates might as well be Bozo the Clown or Lyndon LaRouche.

And I don't just mean ONE. I'll have to start seeing some serious numbers, otherwise it's just a flash in the pan and a lot of extra noise.

 

[nekrodev]

I have to disagree, it happens in every country regardless of education.

This is not entirely true. In Europe, many countries, and the EU have a much larger representation of parties. The UK is pretty similar to us, but even it has many more parties represented, even if not particularly relevant in terms of percentage.

The entire idea that most people have about politics in America is wrong, and completely driven by right-wing framing.

 

[btthegreat]

Its just tactical voting. If I lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, or Florida, then my 'protest' vote against the Democratic Party ( for Stein) in 2016 was worse than throwing my vote away, it was potentially damaging to my own goals. That same vote of mine in Oregon was risk free, because literally had very single voter who voted for any third party candidate + all those who wrote in a name, all coalesced to add theirs to the Trump pile on, Hillary still would have won convincingly. Voting for Hillary in Portland, was worse than a Throw-a-way vote in this far blue area, because it gets interpreted as an endorsement of Hillary and the party as status quo. You become a Democratic party pigeon and there is no risk at all to ticking you off. but if a significant minority of Dems, refused to vote for Hillary as registered Dems, but went Green, when they had voted for Obama, Kerry, Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Mondale etc, that anamoly might have been more noticeable blip on the radar , while also carrying Green Party forward to a higher percentage with a commiserate drop in Dem registration , and thus threatening a new pattern that might impact elections later.

Doing absolutely nothing different in the face of Democratic party complacency or arrogance is a risk as well. They will do nothing to change or reform what pisses you off in the future, because they don't see any statistical evidence that you will ever change your pattern.

 

[MrWonka]

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

One of the two political parties is better for you, and the other is worse. If you don't understand that then you're a ****ing moron. By not educating yourself enough to understand which one it is you're hurting the party that's better for you and helping the one that's worse. You're keeping the ****tier party alive, and preventing the better party from dominating.

If you want the parties to change then they have to hit rock bottom. It's like an alcoholic or a drug addict as long as they're able to get by in spite of their addiction they will never accept their need to change. If you want either party to change, you must figure out which one is better overall, and help that party crush the other out of existence so that it has no choice, but to change if it wants to survive.

 

[ALiberalModerate]

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

Of course it is throwing away your vote, and in a cowardly way. In our presidential elections, either the Republican or the Democrat will win. For example, if in 2016, you say "I didn't vote for Trump, I voted third party.", well you helped him win then. So you are culpable no matter what you tell yourself.

I vote more often Democrat than I do Republican, but I vote Republican for at least some office on every ballot. If I don't like the Democrat, I vote for the Republican. Otherwise, I am just helping elect the Democrat that I don't like and do not think is fit for office. That is how it works in our system.

 

[SDET]

Utahns can truthfully present themselves as not members of the Trump cult, while still not giving their electoral votes to Clinton. They held Trump to less than a majority in their state.

Of course it is throwing away your vote, and in a cowardly way. In our presidential elections, either the Republican or the Democrat will win. For example, if in 2016, you say "I didn't vote for Trump, I voted third party.", well you helped him win then. So you are culpable no matter what you tell yourself.

I vote more often Democrat than I do Republican, but I vote Republican for at least some office on every ballot. If I don't like the Democrat, I vote for the Republican. Otherwise, I am just helping elect the Democrat that I don't like and do not think is fit for office. That is how it works in our system.

 

[Beowulf]

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

I know of no election that has been decided by one vote.

 

[Evilroddy]

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

Old'N Chill:

Voting for the lesser of two evils simply perpetuates evil. Get behind and really support a third party candidate if you want to make a difference. Social media and crowd funding have become game changers for third parties and potent disrupters of establishment parties trying to maintain their preferential status quo through managed democracy and Tweedismm. The unwritten rules of elections are changing dramatically in favour of non-establishment parties, so now is the time to make the change you have not dared to make before. Good luck.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.

 

[upsideguy]

It's not wasting your vote. If a third party candidate gets 10% of the vote, the major parties will start to ask how they can get those voters. I wanted to vote for Evan McMullin in 2016, but had to settle for Gary Johnson. Trump is actually less bad than I expected for the GOP.

I generally agree with this sediment, except that it only works when you are agnostic as to the outcome OR, based upon the electoral college, your vote in your state would not otherwise make a difference.

If, OTH, you find one candidate particularly objectionable, your vote is best spent working to not let that objectionable candidate be elected.

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

Unfortunately, for the reason stated above, I think your poll is TOO simple. There are better answers. Sometimes voting 3rd party is very powerful and sometimes its throwing your vote away.

 

[American]

It's not wasting your vote. If a third party candidate gets 10% of the vote, the major parties will start to ask how they can get those voters. I wanted to vote for Evan McMullin in 2016, but had to settle for Gary Johnson. Trump is actually less bad than I expected for the GOP.

Gary John is a ****ing loser. You need to get over him, he'll never win in a millions years. Libertarians are a stubborn unrealistic bunch that don't deserve to be vote in. I'm partly libertarian, but not so much that I'm inflexible. If you're like Rand Paul, then okay; if you're like Amash and Ron Paul, forget it.

 

[slick]

I rarely thought about voting 3rd party. Romney & McCain were such poor candidates but instead of voting 3rd party
I just didn't vote after voting Republican from 1972 to 2000. In 2004 Bush #2 stupid indulgence into Iraq made me stay home
that year also.

My dad supported Ross Perot in 1992 so I can see how reasonable people vote 3rd party but Perot actually had the lead
for a while he wasn't one of these Johnson or Jill Stein types. I could vote 3rd party in the future but it would have to be some
Teddy Roosevelt type.

 

[Serenity]

People should vote with their conscience and vote for what actually best fits their beliefs and ideals, irrespective of whether or not someone considers it a "wasted" vote by voting Third Party. It will make a definite statement, both to the Republican and Democratic parties and if third parties receive a sufficient proportion of the vote, they will have to begin to modify their platforms. I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want and get it. I just can't accept that voting for your best choice is a waste. Why should you roll over and settle for second best. The only way you don't waste your vote is to vote for who best represents your own views. If you vote for someone else's idea of what represents them and ignore your own then you have silenced your own ideals.

Don't vote for the likely winner simply because they will probably win. How is that democracy? When do you get to voice your opinion? It's pretty simple really. If people keep voting for the lesser of two evils then you will always have evil, and you will always have less.

 

[Tangmo]

I rarely thought about voting 3rd party. Romney & McCain were such poor candidates but instead of voting 3rd party
I just didn't vote after voting Republican from 1972 to 2000. In 2004 Bush #2 stupid indulgence into Iraq made me stay home
that year also.

My dad supported Ross Perot in 1992 so I can see how reasonable people vote 3rd party but Perot actually had the lead
for a while he wasn't one of these Johnson or Jill Stein types. I could vote 3rd party in the future but it would have to be some
Teddy Roosevelt type.

TR lost and he helped elect Woodrow Wilson thank you.

 

[Peter King]

In the current US system it is throwing your vote away twice over. First of all, be it on the right or the left, a third party by say Mitt Romney will siphon away votes from Trump making the Democratic victory all but certain. But on the other hand, Bernie running as a third party candidate will siphon democratic votes away so ensuring another Trump presidency.

In the system the US has, such a thing would never work. The only way it might work is with no electoral college and giving the one with the most votes the presidency.

Now the second way it would be throwing your voice away, it will also weaken the house/senate for conservatives if a conservative other party would appear, on on the left it would be the same if another progressive party would start running candidates.

Sorry, but in a system like the US has, many votes get thrown away, even if there are no third parties around.

 

[DiAnna]

People should vote with their conscience and vote for what actually best fits their beliefs and ideals, irrespective of whether or not someone considers it a "wasted" vote by voting Third Party. It will make a definite statement, both to the Republican and Democratic parties and if third parties receive a sufficient proportion of the vote, they will have to begin to modify their platforms. I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want and get it. I just can't accept that voting for your best choice is a waste. Why should you roll over and settle for second best. The only way you don't waste your vote is to vote for who best represents your own views. If you vote for someone else's idea of what represents them and ignore your own then you have silenced your own ideals.

Don't vote for the likely winner simply because they will probably win. How is that democracy? When do you get to voice your opinion? It's pretty simple really. If people keep voting for the lesser of two evils then you will always have evil, and you will always have less.

At any other time in my life, I would have agreed with you. But here, in America, with Trump in the WH, the 2020 vote is not a "statement" of our own ideals; it is literally a matter of national security for the country itself that Trump be removed from office by whatever means is necessary. Trump is, in my mind, a clear and present danger to this country; that overrides my "ideals" and replaces it with desperation to save my country from a corrupt and incompetent narcissist, who is using the office of president to enrich himself and his family, abuse immigrants who are the wrong color, destroy environmental protections and curry personal favor with despots and America's enemies for his own benefit.

I will literally vote for anyone who can drive Trump out of office. Anyone.

 

[BrotherFease]

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

The answer to your question is a gigantic no.

For starters, you vote for the candidate you want, not who you think will win. If you feel that the libertarian, green party, or whatever has the best policies or has the best leadership qualities, vote for them. No question. You vote for candidates you don't want, you get what you don't want.

Our system, as rigged as it is against third party candidates, does provide incentives to voting third party. If the political party gets at least 5% of the vote, they qualify for federal funding for the next election. This helps the party gain access to more money, more opportunity to recruit, and more opportunity to get better (less crazy) candidates.

Throwing away a vote would actually mean not voting at all.

 

[Tangmo]

People should vote with their conscience and vote for what actually best fits their beliefs and ideals, irrespective of whether or not someone considers it a "wasted" vote by voting Third Party. It will make a definite statement, both to the Republican and Democratic parties and if third parties receive a sufficient proportion of the vote, they will have to begin to modify their platforms. I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want and get it. I just can't accept that voting for your best choice is a waste. Why should you roll over and settle for second best. The only way you don't waste your vote is to vote for who best represents your own views. If you vote for someone else's idea of what represents them and ignore your own then you have silenced your own ideals.

Don't vote for the likely winner simply because they will probably win. How is that democracy? When do you get to voice your opinion? It's pretty simple really. If people keep voting for the lesser of two evils then you will always have evil, and you will always have less.

TR lost and he helped elect Woodrow Wilson.

John Anderson lost and he helped elect Ronald Reagan, which was the Republican plan exactly.

Ross Perot lost and we got Bill Clinton.

Ralph Nader lost hugely yet he helped elect GW Bush.

Strom Thurmond who ran in 1948 on Racist States' Rights couldn't change the outcome and neither could George Wallace who ran in 1968 as a white dog racist. Jill Stein and other so called independents ran in 2016 as ego tripping idiots regardless of whether they might have been useful to anyone.

A voter of conscience knows the likely outcome and impact of his vote. Conscience and consciousness includes awareness of the third party candidate or of the major party candidates and how each or both together are working to manipulate your vote. The la la land language of the post is up in the clouds waiting to descend to the ground as a fog.

 

[Kreton]

I'd consider that more of an issue with education and the media than anything. If people weren't so dumb, the scare tactics wouldn't work.

It isn't a problem with media and education. People are dumb because people are dumb. This is a problem of politics. They know what they are doing when they are constantly spreading their messages of fear and hate.

 

[trouble13]

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

Voting 3rd party absoluetley is NOT throwing away your vote. It tells both partys your not happy with either of their candidates and it gives them a direction to model future candidates after if they are interested in your vote.

I think the importance of the 3rd party vote is massively undervalued. Imagine if the 3rd party candidate did not win a single state but carried 20% of the vote nationally. Both partys would take notice.

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[trouble13]

It's not wasting your vote. If a third party candidate gets 10% of the vote, the major parties will start to ask how they can get those voters. I wanted to vote for Evan McMullin in 2016, but had to settle for Gary Johnson. Trump is actually less bad than I expected for the GOP.

Lol i should of read your post before i posted. Good job!

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[Ikari]

At any other time in my life, I would have agreed with you. But here, in America, with Trump in the WH, the 2020 vote is not a "statement" of our own ideals; it is literally a matter of national security for the country itself that Trump be removed from office by whatever means is necessary. Trump is, in my mind, a clear and present danger to this country; that overrides my "ideals" and replaces it with desperation to save my country from a corrupt and incompetent narcissist, who is using the office of president to enrich himself and his family, abuse immigrants who are the wrong color, destroy environmental protections and curry personal favor with despots and America's enemies for his own benefit.

I will literally vote for anyone who can drive Trump out of office. Anyone.

Well let's hope that the Dems put someone up who can capture those third party voters.

 

[trouble13]

Gary John is a ****ing loser. You need to get over him, he'll never win in a millions years. Libertarians are a stubborn unrealistic bunch that don't deserve to be vote in. I'm partly libertarian, but not so much that I'm inflexible. If you're like Rand Paul, then okay; if you're like Amash and Ron Paul, forget it.

Theres nothing wrong with tbe libertarian ideology. Gary Johnson was just a poor candidate and does not represent libertarism well.

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[American]

Theres nothing wrong with tbe libertarian ideology. Gary Johnson was just a poor candidate and does not represent libertarism well.

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Nobody really listens to mainstream libertarians because they are potheads who play both of the big parties against each other.

 

[zimmer]

I always felt that either a republican or democrat was going to win in a Presidential election, so voting for a third party might be your personal preference but the third party candidate would likely never win the election. In my mind, voting for the lesser of the two evils if I didn't like either candidate would make more sense.

I think that except for making a statement, voting third party is almost like staying home and not voting at all, considering it won't really affect the Presidential win.

The poll question is simple...is voting third party throwing away your vote?

Not for Leftists. It’s an odd form of patriotism.