Is it really wasting your vote to voice dissent by voting 3rd party?

Question

Some people think voting 3rd party is wasting your vote, but if you don't really like the democrat or the republican, if both are corrupt and going to sell out our nation, aren't you wasting your vote voting for them instead of showing your fellow americans that you too are fed up and ready for change? If both main parties are dirtbag sociopaths whats the difference? Your vote for a main party does not matter. The only meaningfull vote is for a third party.

The point is people see that x% voted for a third party. Not just the winner is announced but the winner and all the others. So if people start voting 3rd party over the years the numbers will climb.

Answer 1

I think you are right. People seem to be voting on the top dog anymore. The one they think the rest of America will vote for like it's some kind of a sick twisted competition for that very day to see who was right. Not about what was best.

cactusone verifies what I said........see it's about the WIN

The numbers would climb over time and who's to say that a fluke couldn't happen if a good strong candidate was running third party and people actually wanted to make their vote count for something other than being in the same boat with all the rest of the voters that simply like that guys looks or they have heard of that person more. People have the misconception that they should vote for the one they THINK will win.

Answer 2

In a national election like the Presidency it may be a wasted vote but on a state or local level it would certainly be a wasted vote not to vote for the Libertarian party because at the state & local levels a 3rd party actually has a chance of winning. And once the 3rd parties start winning a lot of local elections then thay can be competitive at the national level. The Dems & GOP are just too strong nationally.

Answer 3

No, it's isn't a waste.

Anyone who sticks to a strictly Democractic or Republican party line, yet still complains about the goings on in Washington or in their various state or local jurisdictions -- well, they are the ones who wasted their vote aren't they?

There is no law that states American politics have to be dominated by either Democratic or Republican parties. These parties rose to prominence through the will of the people (or bully tactics against third parties). There's no reason they can't be squashed by the either of the same.

People are way too complacent, lazy, and willing to have the status quo shoved down their throat every four years.

Answer 4

I believe that in the current U.S. system, then yes it is a wasted vote. There are those that argue 'you have to start somewhere', but ultimately the real impact is 'taking votes away' from the dem or pub frontrunner as things stand today. Prior to the 2004 election, Dianne Feinstein was asked if she would ever run. Her response was no, but not from fear of lack of support; because she said doing so would hand the presidency to the republican party on a platter (ie she would take a significant number of points away from the male democratic frontrunner, and *maybe* take a smattering of female votes away from the republican front runner .. thus splitting the democratic vote and giving unified republicans the easy win).

I would have loved to have someone like Perot (despite the yoda jokes, a very savvy businessman, rather than a suckup to his particular party's established corporate backing) making the rules. Such a thing will never come to pass as thing stand today.

Answer 5

This country badly needs a third party. But if everyone keeps saying, "golly, if the third party can't win, then it's a wasted vote" then we'll never have one. People have got to stop being so damned scared that the "other" candidate will win and vote for someone they think will best fill the position rather than the lesser of two evils.

Answer 6

There is no wasted voted and if one votes for a third party or independent candidate then they are truly voting their conscious. There is a lack of conscious voting as people succumb to the lesser of two evils mentality that only harms our country.

Although, third party candidates rarely win at the national level, their agenda does win. Every major social change can be attributed to the tireless fighting of third party candidates.|

From the abolitionist movement, the women's right movement, the worker's movement, the civil rights movement, and now the people over corporate rights movement.

There is no difference between the two corporate, pro-war parties. We all need to show our disapproval by voting for the third parties that truly represent us.

Answer 7

I don't believe at all it is a waste of your vote. You are given the right to vote as your civic duty, and you should vote for who you want. I did it during our last gubernatorial election here in Texas last year. I voted for Kinky. I would NEVER have voted for Perry, and Bell just did not excite me although I'm a longtime, diehard democrat. It's not a waste, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Answer 8

While you make a somewhat valid point, provided you're voting based on issues, not just for "change", the problem is that any election in which more than two opponents exist cannot be fair. See Arrow's Impossibility Theorem for more on this topic.

Answer 9

In the Last election I voted for Ralph Nader. I am a Republican. I live in Taxachusetts. Connect the dots.

Answer 10

it's not like the 3rd party will win. so does anyone hear you?
I think it is a waste just BC I say the above