If our electoral system could be reformed, will more voters vote for third parties?

Question

I'm thinking that some type of electoral system reform would help our elections by giving voters more choices and more voters. Third parties can do well with systems like IRV or STV and also party list PR or mixed systems. With some type of reform, third parties like the Green and Libertarian would have more voter support and can even win seats. What do you all think?

Answer 1

Yes, Ballot Access reform is desperately needed. We complain about people not voting, but mainly that is because they don't feel they really have a candidate that they can support. If more parties/candidates were allowed to get on the ballot, elections would truly be more representative and have higher turnout.
IRV and or proportional representation would be much better, but we first have to open up our ballots to actually let more people run. IRV doesn't do a thing if you still just allow 2 or 3 parties to run.

Answer 2

This would require extensive campaign finance reform; getting most of the money out of the process, and it's something the 2 major parties absolutely won't support in any meaningful way. Scrapping the electoral college could help a bit. The third party would then be viewed as having x% of the vote, rather than just a few or no votes from the electoral college. Eliminating gerrymandering for US congressional districts would help third parties a bit more. Right now, most boundaries are drawn to favor one of the major parties or the other. If races were more open, so that incumbents were not so favored by demographics, third parties could get a foothold in the House at least.

BTW, I think you could have gotten better answers if you'd defined your terms IRV STV and PR! They're not commonly known!

Answer 3

Just reforming the electoral college is not enough to ensure that third parties would be successful. We would need to revamp the entire election system.

Our election system is geared to support only two main parties, from the start of a campaign to the end. Each state would need to overhaul their laws to make it easier for third parties to get on the ballot. We also need major reforms to the way that campaigns receive money.

Those third parties also need to take a look at their party platforms and realize that they only appeal to a small group of voters. In order for a party to be successful, they must be broad-based in order to attract voters. So until the third parties realize this, then they will continue to unsuccessful.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you but the powers that be like to keep elections contained so that the party leaders, the Speaker, can caucus and 'whip' the others in their party to comply with - not their own convictions - the party's will. You know, "you vote for my bill and I'll vote for yours". The party can designate the heads of all committees. How could they manage if a third party was in charge? Therefore it's the same old, same old.

They will do everything to diminish, deny other parties and (legally?) block them from fair participation in the campaigns.

Anyway the media uses the power of the pen to sway elections and give coverage to their choice too many foolishly take their word as gospel truth.

Answer 5

No reform is needed. People can and should be supporting parties other than Democrat and Republican, because those two alternatives just mean business as usual. There is no difference between them. More and more government, more and more getting involved in foreign wars, tax and spend, a worthless, inflating currency with no gold backing. What do you think? Is it time for a change?

Answer 6

other parties are there people just dont vote for them. with some other systems you need to get at least 5% to get representation so they would not mean much anyway.

Answer 7

I think eliminating parties And electorals would do the trick...