What do you think of this quote, "A vote for the minor party candidate is a vote wasted."?

Answer 1

It only proves that you do not agree with either candidate, but actually accomplishes nothing. Politics is the best of 2 evils, unfortunately.

Answer 2

I don't think it's true.

I voted for Ross Perot. I'm almost ashamed to admit it. I think he was a kook, he would have made a terrible president (though perhaps not as bad as . . .well, let's not go there).

I only voted for the guy because I knew he couldn't win! Clinton had my state locked up so there was no point voting for him, or for GHW Bush. But Perot made the budget, the nat'l debt, and fiscal responsibility the centerpiece of his campaign. So I thought if maybe 10% of people voted for him, whoever -did- become president would be able to talk like a responsible grownup about the budget and deficit spending.

Bottom line, 15% of Americans voted for Perot and Bill Clinton DID take fiscal responsibility seriously. If he'd had a third term we would have balanced the budget and even started paying down the debt. That would have been a good thing! Instead, ol' you-know-who, as soon as he came into office, gave it all away to his rich friends in more top-loaded tax cuts.

I have lost faith in the two major parties so badly that I would vote for third parties every time if there WERE third parties. As it is, like most people, I will probably end up voting for the party and candidate that sucks least. That's not my idea of democracy.

Answer 3

I think it is a sad fact.

In a winner-take-all system, all you need is the most votes. Not only does a vote for a third party candidate not lead to electing them, but it could split the vote. If a third party candidate is conservative, they draw votes away from a Republican (or a liberal, from a Democrat), possibly leading to a victory for the other party, even if a majority voted on conservative lines.

If we had a proportional representation system, then a third party candidate could actually affect change, as there would be some reward, some representation, for the people voting for them.

Answer 4

I've heard it many of times.
But those that say it need to decide.... "They" tell us to get out and Vote, Rock the Vote, etc. BUt then when we vote for a minor candidate that most matches what we want in a candidate, they say it's a vote wasted.

Look at the 1992 election. Ross Perot almost forevermore started a third political party because of "wasted" votes. I think you need either 20 or 25% of the popular votes to do start another official party besides the Dems and the Reps. He got 18.9%

Answer 5

I think everyone should vote. Having said that when the vote goes to a minor party it is a waste. The minor parties never win and ultimately the race is between the Dems and Rep. People swaying towards a minor party vote should use their right to pick between the major parties to really make a difference.

Answer 6

In America? Most people would agree with that statement. The reason? The winner-take-all system for the electoral votes and the long history of the Dems and Reps in the country's politics.
In other countries? Not necessarily true. In Europe, for example, there are many third parties which are part of the reigning government, that is the majority coalition.

Answer 7

It depends entirely on the context. If the minor party candidate was by far better than any of his major party counterparts, the vote isn't wasted even if he ends up losing. Besides, let's be optimistic -- he might win!

Answer 8

I agree with it. Third party votes are usually protest votes in my opinion. Kinda like the Christian right saying they won't vote for the republicans if a pro choice candidate like Guiliani gets the nomination.

Answer 9

I think it is propaganda perpetuated by the two parties that make ours, actually, a one-party system.
I regularly vote for third party candidates or even write people in because I vote my conscience.

Answer 10

I think it only reinforces that people can only vote for democrats or republicans. Its like saying, well its ok to not recycle because there will never be enough recyclers for it to make a difference. The whole thing with the parties is stupid. I mean, can anyone really tell me they are 100 percent for or against one or the other parties beliefs? There is grey lines and thats why parties are stupid.

Answer 11

In the US -- since almost all states use an "all or nothing" method to allocate electoral votes -- it's absolutely true.

Unless a canidate gets the majority vote in a state -- they get no electoral votes at all -- meaning that a vote for a minority party candidate is literally never even counted.