Do you think its better to vote for a third party candidate whom you favor even if he or she couldn't win?

Question

Is it better to throw your vote away to make a statement for change or to pick what you see as the lesser of two evils?

Answer 1

This is a very tricky issue. I think it's a matter of individual choice, although the difficult thing to remember is that not only are you "throwing" your vote away, you're also, in effect, voting for the major party candidate you oppose.

For example, let's say you're a conservative-leaning libertarian who likes strongly fiscal conservative policies but is not interested in right-wing social issues. You vote for a Ross Perot-like candidate when otherwise you would have voted for the Republican. That's one net vote away from the Republican, and in close races the same as not voting at all. The third party dilutes the Republican votes that normally would have flowed in, and as a result the "liberal" candidate (the one you would least likely support) gets elected.

This has happened twice -- it happened with Ross Perot & George Bush (Sr.) vs. Clinton; and it happened with Nader & Gore vs. Bush (Jr.)
IMHO the 3d party candidate is a valid vote only:
(a) If neither of the major party candidates are preferrable to you
(b) if there is an issue that is so strong to you (i.e. environment, abortion) that you must send a signal to the major parties to let them know, and you are willing to have the least preferrable candidate win as a "punishment."

Otherwise, the major party candidate is a good choice. You can still talk with them; your lobbiests may be able to convince them to change their position. (In fact, they may agree with you but cannot say so during the campaign because it's politically unpopular.)

Remember, there ARE differences between the major party candidates. A Kerry administration means that we would NOT have been in Iraq (although we may have been in North Korea or Iran by now.) It means that military spending would be lower, taxes (for the wealthiest americans at least) would be higher, and the prescription drug plan for Medicare would be quite different. And, it means the shape of the federal judiciary would be different (more likely that Sandra O'Connor would not have retired; Justice Stevens would have retired and been replaced with someone liberal, and Chief Rehnquist would have passed away, so a net +1 on the Supreme Court liberal, and countless other judges in the lower federal courts who were more "moderate.")

Answer 2

A vote is never thrown away. Your vote is your statement. Many third party candidates have influenced issues over the years not because they won but because the number of votes they did get made the main two parties realize they had to adopt some of the third party's ideas. And, there's been way too many close races lately to think any vote is wasted.

Answer 3

I think that voting for someone is better than voting against someone else. If you favor a candidate, you should vote for him/her. Making a statement is by no means throwing your vote away! (Of course, there is a downside. It is more difficult to get a majority vote with more than two candidates). So, you have to weigh the pros and cons, and decide with your conscience. Vote proactively, for the one you favor most. It's the honest thing to do, so you will still respect yourself in the morning.

Answer 4

I agree with the Jaguar.

While I'd love for you to just vote a straight Republican ticket, you should vote for the guy (or gal) you want to see in office.

If everyone that liked the third party candidate voted for him/her, that candidate might have a chance at taking the election.

Your vote is only one vote, but so is everyone else's.

Answer 5

when you vote you are making a statement. No vote is a "throw away" vote. You should always vote for the person you feel is the best person for the job regardless of party affiliation. The most important thing is getting out there and making yourself heard by voting.

Answer 6

well most third party candidates will give there votes to the party or candidate in another party when the count is going away from them. So it is a frutile choice at the best

Answer 7

Jodi Rell is going to win for govenor, thats already pretty clear here, So instead of voting for the democratic candidate or Jodi Rell, I am going to vote for the Green Partys candidate.

Answer 8

If everyone who liked third party cannidates voted for them then they would have a chance of winning

Answer 9

Vote third party if you want the greater of the two evils to win!

Answer 10

I know what you mean and I think unless a 3rd party had a chance. waste of effort. In my opinion, after reading the sad message from one of our guys in Afghan. asking for gang members to go & help them out, a balance in the cabinet would curb future blunders.